Registration now open for the first Matthew 25 Summit

‘An Invitation for Innovation’ will be held in Atlanta Jan. 16-18, 2024

by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Registration is open for the first Matthew 25 Summit, which will be held Jan. 16-18, 2024, in Atlanta.

“An Invitation for Innovation” is the banner under which participants will explore the Matthew 25 vision of building congregational vitality, dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty. The Matthew 25 movement also includes the intersectional priorities of climate change, gender justice and heteropatriarchy and militarism.

The historic New Life Presbyterian Church in College Park, Georgia, will be the host church for the Matthew 25 Summit. Four Points by Sheraton Atlanta Airport West is where conference attendees will lodge. Registration is $199, which includes two lunches, conference swag and materials for the event. The conference is open to anyone, particularly those engaged in Matthew 25 work. Register for the summit here.

Dr. William Yoo

The keynoter will be Dr. William Yoo, Associate Professor of American Religious and Cultural History and Director of the MDiv program at Columbia Theological Seminary and the author of “What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church,” published last year by Westminster John Knox Press.

During the summit, panel discussions and a number of workshops will be held around three themes: “Innovation: Deconstructing the New Ministry Frontier,” “Engagement: Who is Doing What and Why and How?” and “How Do We Challenge and Transform?”

An exhibit hall will be available with a designated space for decompressing, meditation and breaks.

Details are still being finalized, but the current draft schedule includes these events:

Tuesday, Jan. 16

Noon-1 p.m. — Opening worship with the Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, president of Columbia Theological Seminary

1:15-2:15 p.m. — Opening plenary with Dr. William Yoo

2:30-4:30 p.m. — Sessions

4:30 p.m. — Break and dinner

7-8 p.m. — Fireside Chats

Wednesday, Jan. 17

9-10 a.m. — Worship with the Rev. Aisha Brooks-Johnson, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, preaching

10-11:30 a.m. — Plenary with Dr. William Yoo

11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. — Lunch

1:30-3 p.m. — Sessions

4 p.m. — Outreach activity

7:30 p.m. — Movie screening

Thursday, Jan. 18

9-10:15 a.m. — Worship with the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, preaching

10:15-noon — Workshops

Noon-1:30 p.m. — Closing luncheon

For more information, go here or send an email to Matthew25Summit@pcusa.org.