On Allisonville Road on the north side of Indianapolis, Allisonville Christian Church has served its neighbors for generations as a congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Within the tradition known for weekly communion, the importance of scripture, and the unity of the whole church, Allisonville carries its own rhythm: two Sunday worship services, a flourishing children's ministry, a dinner-church gathering called Immersion, an in-house preschool, and an outreach program that reaches from local schools to refugee resettlement. The congregation is also a certified Green Chalice church, weaving care for creation into its identity.

Two Sunday Services, Two Worship Styles

Worship at Allisonville centers on two Sunday gatherings in the main sanctuary. A traditional service takes place at 9:30 AM, and a contemporary service follows at 11:00 AM. Both are open to all, and both are livestreamed on YouTube and Facebook for those who wish to join virtually. Elders of the congregation, who serve three-year terms as spiritual leaders, assist at the Communion Table each Sunday, offering the invitations to give and to partake of the Lord's Supper. Children's Worship and Wonder, a worship-centered storytelling program for ages 3 through 1st grade, takes place during both services, with children dismissed after the Children's Moment.

Allisonville Kids: From Nursery Through Fifth Grade

Children's ministry at Allisonville stretches from infancy through fifth grade and is led by Associate Minister of Faith Formation Rev. Josh Jackson. A full nursery is available for infants through age three with paid, trained staff, with exceptions when needed. Children's Worship and Wonder uses biblical storytelling, ritual, fellowship, and snacks to help children develop a deeper relationship with God, with specially trained leaders running the program at both services.

For older children, Exploring Worship serves 2nd through 4th graders during the 9:30 AM traditional service with a time of fellowship, prayer, and conversation about the day's scripture. Children's Sunday School meets at 11:00 AM for 1st through 5th graders. Junior Youth Fellowship gathers 3rd through 5th graders monthly at noon on Sundays for food, fun, and fellowship. Children's Handbells rehearses at 10:40 AM in the Little Rainbows room, where all ages are welcome to make a joyful noise together. The children's ministry stays busy year-round with an annual Easter Egg Hunt, Vacation Bible School, Trunk or Treat, and a family-friendly Christmas Eve service.

Youth and Young Adults

The youth ministry, also under Rev. Josh Jackson, is open to students in grades 6 through 12. Youth Sunday School meets at 11:00 AM in Room 14 each Sunday for Bible study and fellowship, and Youth Group gathers at noon in the Retreat House behind the church for an afternoon of food, fun, and faith development during the school year. Summer brings alternative programming. Throughout the year, youth participate in lock-ins, mission trips, Youth Sunday, retreats, and trivia nights.

ACC Young Adults brings together people primarily in their 20s and 30s for monthly activities aimed at spiritual growth, relationships, and good food. A weekly Young Adult Discussion Group meets on Mondays at 6:00 PM at the Retreat House behind the church, with snacks provided.

Adults in the Round: Sunday School Classes and Bible Study

Three adult Sunday school classes meet during the education hour. The Faith Class, currently led by Rev. Joyce Coalson, gathers in the Casa space and follows the lectionary-based curriculum Feasting on the Word, working through the three-year Revised Common Lectionary calendar. The LIFE Class, taught by Sue Shadburne Call, Russ Smith, and Joel Duffield, rotates series and discussions throughout the year on a wide range of faith and life topics. The Pathfinders Class, taught by Jim Powell, Peggy Powell, and Pam Rahn, meets in the Chalice Room and bases its discussions on the scripture text and sermon from that day's worship.

Beau's Bible Study, led by Senior Minister Rev. Beau Underwood, dives into a new book of the Bible each week. It meets on Thursdays at 10:00 AM in person and at 7:00 PM on Zoom. Disciples 101 gathers quarterly to explore what it means to be part of the Disciples tradition. The Allisonville Forum meets monthly for a free lunch at 12:15 PM followed by a forum presentation at 12:45 PM, engaging provocative ideas and contemporary issues in public life.

Immersion: Dinner Church Reimagined

On the second Sunday of each month at 5:00 PM, the church gathers for Immersion, an alternative worship experience that begins with a shared meal. Guests serve themselves from the church kitchen and sit together in the fellowship hall; vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are always available. At 5:30 PM, the gathering shifts to a guided conversation around a passage from a chosen book, with no hymns, prayers, or creeds required. Each month centers on a different theme and a different book, with a short selection printed and read aloud before the conversation begins. Participants are invited to stay for cleanup, and copies of the book are available for those who want to keep reading. There is no dress code; the invitation is to be comfortable and be yourself. Guests enter through Door 2.

Walking the Way of Jesus: Outreach and Mission

Outreach at Allisonville takes shape through many partnerships, organized under Associate Minister of Outreach and Growth Rev. Sarah Zuniga. Buddy Bags provides ninety bags of food for each school break for students at Clearwater Elementary, Eastwood Middle School, and Northview Middle School. The Christmas Families ministry adopts local families each holiday season to provide gifts and food. ACC sponsors a child through Global Ministries each year and has given financial, emotional, and educational support to a Congolese refugee family with four children who settled in Indianapolis in 2015. The congregation sponsors three Habitat for Humanity builds (two Women's Builds and one GIDA Build), works with Family Promise to furnish apartments for families experiencing homelessness, and volunteers with Horizon House and Second Helpings to serve those who are hungry. Jesus Fellowship, a westside Christian day care, has been supported since its inception through volunteer labor and ongoing giving. On the first Sunday of each month, the church collects food, personal hygiene items, and cash for the Linwood Food Pantry on Michigan Street. A quarterly blood drive and an annual gardening effort round out the outreach calendar.

Care for Creation: A Green Chalice Congregation

Allisonville is a certified Green Chalice congregation. The Green Team covenants to worship God with all creation, study the climate crisis, repent for harm done to the Earth, advocate for ecojustice, and rest in God's good creation. The congregation's largest environmental project is the ACC Garden, which produces fresh vegetables for local food pantries and congregational members. The Creation Care Corner newsletter keeps members connected to the work.

The Allisonville Preschool

Sharing the Allisonville campus is the Allisonville Preschool, a weekday ministry serving children ages 1 through 5 using the Zoo-phonics curriculum. Preschool Director Chloe Skiles leads a staff of classroom teachers and assistants across Moon Beams, Raindrops, Sunbeams, Little Clouds, Shining Stars, and Explorers classes, with each classroom staffed at a minimum of two adults to exceed the standard ratio. Classes run Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with half-day options for the youngest students and an early drop-off option beginning at 8:30 AM. Explorers, a Thursday preschool enrichment class for children ages 3 to 5, focuses on literacy and pre-emergent reading skills. The preschool shares the church's building, including a large indoor play space, a protected playground, and outdoor space for exploring nature. Scholarship opportunities are available for families needing financial assistance.

Elders, Women's Circles, and the Wider Church Family

Elders at Allisonville serve three-year terms as spiritual leaders, presiding at the Communion Table, praying at the table, and relating to families through a system of care circles. Four Disciples Women's Ministries (DWM) Circles meet regularly: Mary Martha, Damaris, and Sarah Circles, plus the Joy Group, an interfaith fellowship for residents of Robin Run that meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Chapel on the Tower. Beyond these, the church hosts a Friday Dinner Group at MCL Castleton Corner Lane at 5:30 PM, a monthly book club on the last Tuesday at 7:00 PM, a men's breakfast on the first Saturday at 8:30 AM at Metro Diner, a crafting group on the first Saturday at 9:00 AM, and the Prime Timers, a seniors' lunch group that meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 AM at restaurants around town. Yoga meets several evenings a week in the building.

Pastors and Staff

Rev. Beau Underwood serves as Senior Minister, having joined Allisonville in January 2023 after experience in congregational ministry, hospital chaplaincy, social justice advocacy, and religious media. He holds degrees from Eureka College, the University of Chicago, and the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is the author of "Dear Son: Raising Faithful, Just, and Compassionate Men" and coauthor of "Unsettling Lent." Rev. Josh Jackson, Associate Minister of Faith Formation, joined ACC in July 2021 with a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. Rev. Sarah Zuniga (they/she), Associate Minister of Outreach and Growth, came to Allisonville from Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training and serves as Co-Moderator of Disciples Peace Fellowship's Executive Committee.

Beth Guy, the Congregational Care Coordinator, joined the staff in July 2025 after twelve years with Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, including two years as a prison chaplain in Guadeloupe. Chris Higgins has served as Director of Music since August 2007. Tracy Noens serves as Worship Organist and Accompanist, having been a member of ACC since 1996 and organist since 1988. Jason Tuttle joined as Worship Media Technician in 2018 and now serves as Media Manager. Chloe Skiles, who grew up just down the street from the church, serves as Preschool Director.

Allisonville Christian Church is part of The Christian Church in Indiana, a region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), whose international headquarters are on Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis. At Allisonville, the words of the prophet Micah - "To seek justice and love kindness and walk humbly with your God" - lay claim to and capture the church's mission, purpose, and way of life.