Matthew 25
We are a Matthew 25 Presbytery
Together with 75 other PC(USA) Presbyteries we commit to encourage and support Matthew 25 congregations as they strive to be a church of action, where God’s love, justice and mercy shine forth and are contagious.
At least 20% of our member congregations have made the commitment to the Matthew 25 Initiative.
View this video (6:35) to learn more about Matthew 25 and what the commitment to radical and fearless hospitality can look like for your congregations and ministries.
PGV Matthew 25 Congregations (as of June 2022)
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- Chili
- Gates
- Geneseo
- John Knox
- Medina
- Mt. Morris
- Penfield
- South
- Third
- Trinity Emmanuel
We embrace these areas of focus:
BUILDING CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY
Building spiritual strength and capacity for purposeful mission. Congregational vitality is evident in a worshiping community when its structural systems, finances and discipleship practices are aligned in such a way that the community is actively engaged in the mission of God in their local community and the world, and they are powerfully focused on growing as disciples in the way of Jesus Christ.
DISMANTLING STRUCTURAL RACISM
Confronting deeply ingrained racist systems and structures in our communities in order to challenge these systems and encourage action. Racism is not primarily about individual prejudice or an individual’s beliefs and attitudes. Rather, racism in the U.S. is a socially constructed system. Some people are advantaged, and others are disadvantaged, merely because of their skin color, ethnic identity, or their ancestral background. Social power and prejudice have combined to treat people differently, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Some people are privileged while others are oppressed. Consequently, there is unequal and inequitable access to resources such as money, education, information and decision-making power.
ERADICATING SYSTEMIC POVERTY
Addressing the lack of access to social goods such as education, employment, and other measures of dignity, freedom, and participation in communal life. Individuals are economically poor for diverse, complicated, and unique reasons that stem from living in a world in which economic policies and practices trap some people in persistent poverty while enabling others to accumulate wealth. Systemic poverty refers to the economic exploitation of people who are poor through laws, policies, practices and systems that perpetuate their impoverished status.
