A bold vision and invitation from Presbyterian Mission Agency

What is a Matthew 25 church?

Matthew 25:31–46 calls all of 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, both the 222nd and 223rd General Assemblies (2016 and 2018) exhorted the PC(USA) to act boldly and compassionately to serve people who are hungry, oppressed, imprisoned or poor.

How the vision unites all Presbyterians

By accepting the Matthew 25 invitation, you can help our denomination become a more relevant presence in the world. We recognize Christ’s urgent call to be a church of action, where God’s love, justice and mercy shine forth and are contagious. And we rejoice how our re-energized faith can unite all Presbyterians for a common and holy purpose: our common identity to do mission.

We invite you to join us on this journey! Become a Matthew 25 church.

About the Matthew 25 mark
The circular shape represents unity and equality. Like God, a circle has no beginning and no end, and it symbolizes our continuing effort to help one another. The shape also suggests a globe that points to our engagement with the world.
The three interlocking figures represent the equality of all people without gender or race bias. They have their arms around each other, symbolizing friendship, protection and service. The number three suggests the three focus areas of congregational vitality, structural racism and systematic poverty, as well as the Trinity.
The color palette is bright, lively, friendly and energetic — suggestive of our active commitment.
Finally, the legend “Matthew 25” below the symbol is the literal identification of the mark. We use a handwritten font to make the point that active engagement in the world requires human effort.

2019-2021 Book of Order Now Available

Download the 2019/2021 Book of Order or order hard copies online.

Also available in Korean, Spanish, Braille, and large print.

May Stated Assembly Meeting - Find out what you missed!

May Stated Assembly Meeting Highlights

The Presbytery of Denver gathered in Assembly at Arvada Presbyterian Church. Rev. gretchen Sausville, Pastor of Arvada welcomed the Assembly. The Presbytery of Denver offers thanks and appreciation to both Arvada Presbyterian and North Highland Presbyterian Churches and Rev. Ashley Taylor and the hosting congregations for their hospitality to the Assembly and preparing the wonderful fellowship gathering.

Assembly at Worship           
Our guest preacher, Rev. Dr. Eunjoo Kim, Professor, Iliff School of Theology, gave a powerful message “Speak Out: The Proclamation of Truth in the Face of Power” based on Deuteronomy 10:12-21 and 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 incorporating music assisted by Rev. Amy Mendez, Rev. Don Shrumm, Rev. Jemimah Ngatia, and a congregant from the Neema Fellowship. Special thanks to Sarah Pieplow, accompanist for Arvada Presbyterian Church.

Business Highlights

• Introduction and welcome of new minister member, Rev. Scott VanderWal.

• Celebrating the commissioning of 44 young people in the Presbytery of Denver to the Presbyterian Youth Triennium at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

• Approval of Ruling Elder Nancy Dixon to serve on Council to fill a vacated term.

• The Partnership Day Camps and summer camp at Highlands Camp and Retreat Center will begin in June with the theme “Peace Works”.

• Approval of an Administrative Committee to walk with North Highland Presbyterian Church.

• Celebrating Presbytery to Presbytery partnership with the commissioning of Denver Presbytery 2019 delegates to Zimbabwe, Wanda Beauman, Ruth Huff, Rob Habiger, and Marny Eulberg.

• Encouragement to continue supporting the ministry and mission of the Presbytery of Denver with per capita and mission giving.

• Visioning for the future has begun – prayers for the Presbytery and the process.

• Approval to sale the Lakewood property.

• Connecting with each other and the world community with shared highlights of the Malawi Mission Partnership.

Webinar on Shared Ministry by National Guard and Reserves Chaplains Serving Congregations

Did you miss the webinar conducted by the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel? Watch the recording explaining the potential for finding leadership for your congregations among Guard and Reserve chaplains. There’s a need for more mainline ministers among military chaplains, and a need for pastoral leadership for many churches, especially those who cannot currently support a full-time pastor; both needs might be met by the same person.

For more information, contact Lyman M. Smith, CAPT, CHC, USN, Retired, at 202.630.6225; Lyman is the Director, Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies.

Learn More about the Malawi Mission Partnership

The Presbytery of Denver is engaged in vital mission! Our mission takes place as congregations come together to form mission partnerships, covenant communities, or task forces addressing a specific need. In order to celebrate the wonderful work already being done in our Presbytery and to encourage churches to join existing partnerships or start new ones, we will be highlighting our congregational partnerships in our newsletter.

Below you'll find a link to the Malawi Mission Partnership video. Please take the opportunity to learn what our churches are doing. Consider whether or not the Holy Spirit might be calling your congregation to join these marvelous efforts already underway or perhaps to launch an entirely new mission partnership.

One of the things that makes Presbyterians unique is our commitment to education.  The Malawi Mission Partnership is sharing our passion for education with church leaders in an urban village outside the capital of Malawi.  The Malawi Mission Partnership provides a "2-year education for ministry" for the 90 churches serving this village of 40,000.  After completing their training for ministry, many pastors have gone on to complete their secondary education.  As a result, the Gospel is being proclaimed, the Bible is taught with integrity, leadership skills are maturing, and the Church is growing.  Please consider joining our partnership with the Church in this country in southeast Africa. 

• Participating Churches:  First Leadville and Trinity.

To learn more about Malawi Mission Partnership,please reach out to Phylis Ritscher 

New Pastor at Peoples PC is interviewed by CNN

Apathy, anger and relief: How voters around the country are processing the end of Mueller

Evan Amo, a self-described liberal independent, is a pastor at Peoples Presbyterian Church in Denver.

"I care about corruption and conspiracy and collusion and nepotism and all that, but I think that the duration of this whole process has led me to feel skeptical and less hopeful," said Evan Amo, a 30-year-old Presbyterian pastor who just recently moved to Denver and did not support Trump in 2016. "I think a lot of people are just feeling fatigued by the whole investigation process."

Democrats and liberals now have to confront a difficult truth: The inquiry that consumed so much of Washington for the better part of two years ended, and which many Democrats hoped would bring down the President, has left him and his supporters feeling vindicated and vengeful.

For Amo, a self-described liberal independent, the outcome has caused him to examine his own motivations. "I would prefer that Trump is not our president, but I just don't think it is constructive to wish for this investigation to prove his guilt just because we despise him or to have a victory over Republicans," he said. "That's the tension that I have: What are my motives? Do I want a loss for Trump and a win for my party, or do I want justice for our Democracy as whole?"