Matthew 25:31-46 calls us to actively engage in the world around us, so our faith comes alive and we wake up to new possibilities. Convicted by this passage, the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to see our neighbors through Jesus’s eyes and serve those who are marginalized or in need — people who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprisoned, strangers, poor, or oppressed in other ways and in need of welcoming.
Congregations who make the Matthew 25 pledge recognize Christ’s urgent call to be a church of action, where God’s love, justice, and mercy shine forth and are contagious. They rejoice how our re-energized faith can unite all Presbyterians for a common and holy purpose: our common identity to do mission.
Matthew 25 Congregations in Presbytery of the James
All Nations Fellowship
Covenant Church, Petersburg
Lord Jesus Korean Church, Midlothian
Olivet Church, Charlottesville
Orange Church, Orange
Second Church, Richmond
Tabor Church, Crozet
Tappahannock Church, Tappahannock
Voices of Jubilee New Worshipping Community
Woodville Church, Richmond
Living the Call of Matthew 25
The themes of the Matthew 25 invitation are grounded in the gospel. Jesus calls us to serve with and for “the least of these” — not as a group to be pitied, but as people who are deeply loved by Jesus. With that in mind, Matthew 25 congregations embrace one or more of these three focuses:
Building congregational vitality
by challenging congregations and their members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with their community, seeing new disciples engaged in ministry and longstanding believers develop in faith as the gospel of Jesus Christ is shared in word and deed.
Dismantling structural racism
by fearlessly applying our faith to advocate and break down the systems, practices, and thinking that underlie discrimination, bias, prejudice, and oppression of people of color.
Eradicating systemic poverty
by acting on our beliefs and working to change laws, policies, plans, and structures in our society that perpetuate economic exploitation of people who are poor.
Learn How Your Congregation Can Actively Engage in the World
Becoming a Matthew 25 congregation is as simple as taking the PC(USA) pledge, tracking of the impact of your ministry, and sharing your stories with the PC(USA) from time to time.
Find the pledge, resources, and stories of other congregations living the Matthew 25 call.