CENTRALongmont Presbyterian Church | Matthew 25 Congregation

being a matthew 25 congregation

Matthew 25 is an initiative of the Presbyterian Church (USA) rooted in Jesus’ admonition to his followers to care “for the least of these” (25:31-46). Being a Matthew 25 congregation means that CENTRALongmont is committed to acting boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, or poor.

All Matthew 25 congregations pledge to undertake ministries which, in their own communities, address one or more of the following: dismantling structural racism, eradicating systemic poverty, and building congregational vitality.

CENTRALongmont has ministries and mission initiatives addressing Racism and Poverty. If you would like to get involved to help address these issues, please reach out to Jennifer Haratsaris to learn about the active working groups and meeting times for these initiatives. To read articles and essays created by these working groups, please go to our new blog-like page CENTRALPosts for the latest content.

More information about the Matthew 25 initiative can be found here, at the PC(USA) Presbyterian Mission website.

Session set as one of its goals for 2020 to guide CENTRALongmont to becoming a Matthew 25 congregation. One facet of that effort is the goal of dismantling structural racism.

Here is how the PC(USA) defines that goal: “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.”

Collection of Resources to Open the Heart:

From PC(USA):

Presbyterian Mission Racial Justice Resources

Books:

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown
Rediscipling the White Church by David W. Swanson

Articles:

David’s 6/7/2020 Sermon: Strange Fruit and resources on lament
"White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" by Peggy McIntosh
"Racism is Killing the Planet" by Hop Hopkins, Sierra Club
"Instances of Institutional Racism" by Reyes Ramos, CENTRALongmont

Poetry/Music:

Letter to the Free Music Video by Common, written Lyrics
Strange Fruit Vocalist Marietta Simpson and Guitarist Tyron Cooper perform the Billie Holiday classic, written Lyrics

Films:

Podcasts/YouTube/TED Talks/Blogs:

The Danger of the Single Story: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Dear White Peacemakers: the Global Immersion project
Holy Post - Race in America: Phil Vischer
Holy Post - Race in America - Part II: Phil Vischer

Websites:

Eradicating Systemic Poverty is our second Matthew 25 focus. This Matthew 25 initiative strives to “eradicate systemic poverty by working to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our society that perpetuate exploitation of people who are poor."

The PC(USA) defines the goal of Eradicating Systemic Poverty:

“How do we eradicate systemic poverty?

Advocate for better public policies, including job creation, greater empowerment of workers, family-life balance, a quest for greater accuracy of official measurements of household economic well-being, a

stronger social safety net, increased social involvement in poorer communities (such as expanded and enriched public schooling), and increased social inclusion and community empowerment as urged by

the 220th General Assembly (2012).”