Glide Memorial Church

Glide Memorial Church

Glide Memorial Church in 2016. Photo taken from across Taylor St.

Glide Memorial Church
Glide Memorial Church
Location of Glide Memorial in San Francisco
37°47′7″N 122°24′41″W / 37.78528°N 122.41139°W / 37.78528; -122.41139
Location 330 Ellis Street
San Francisco, California
Country United States
Denomination United Methodist Church
Website www.glide.org
History
Founded 1929 (1929)
Founder(s) Lizzie Glide
Architecture
Completed 1931
Administration
Episcopal area California-Nevada Conference
District Bridges District
Clergy
Pastor(s)

Karen Oliveto

Theon Johnson

Angela Brown

Glide Memorial Church is a church in San Francisco, California, affiliated with the United Methodist Church, which opened in 1930. Although conservative until the 1960s, since then it has served as a counter-culture rallying point and has been one of the most prominently liberal churches in the United States. Glide is also famous for its Gospel Choir and numerous social service programs. Its contributions to the community have been recognized by public figures such as Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Clinton; as well as Warren Buffett, who contributed the value of an auctioned lunch on eBay.[1]

History

In 1920, Methodist philanthropist Lizzie Glide purchased a parcel of land at the intersection of Ellis and Taylor Streets in San Francisco [2] and founded the Glide Foundation as a memorial to her millionaire cattleman husband, H.L. Glide of Sacramento.[3] Construction of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church was completed two years later.[2]

Leadership

In 1963, Rev. Cecil Williams became Pastor at Glide Memorial. Prior to him, Rev. John Moore, whose sermons on homosexuality appeared on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, had been Pastor.[4] In 1964, Glide helped form the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in an effort to close the gap between people of faith and the homosexual community.[5]

Cecil Williams remained sole pastor until 1999, when Rev. Douglass Fitch was named co-Pastor.[3] In 2000, Rev. Fitch was appointed Pastor upon Williams’ retirement and transition into the role of Glide Foundation’s CEO.[2] Fitch remained Glide’s primary pastor until his 2007 retirement, at which time Williams was succeeded as CEO by Willa Seldon.

The Rev. Donald Guest was appointed in 2007, and Rev. Dr. Karen Oliveto joined Glide in 2008.[6] In early 2010, Glide announced the resignation of CEO Willa Seldon, who agreed to continue the position until a replacement is found.[7]

In September 2010, Rita Shimmin and Kristen Growney Yamamoto were appointed Co-Executive Directors of Glide, replacing founding Executive Director Janice Mirikitani. Mirikitani, Williams’ wife, continues her role as Founding President.[8]

In August 2012, Rev. Theon Johnson III was appointed as Associate Pastor. In June 2014, Rev. Angela Brown JD., was appointed Associate Pastor. As of February 2016, Rev. Oliveto, Rev. Johnson and Rev. Brown make up the pastoral team.[9]

Programs

Since the 1960s, Glide Church has provided various services for the poor and disenfranchised. Glide currently runs 87 various social service programs. Through their Daily Free Meals program, Glide serves three meals daily, amounting to over 750,000 free meals a year.[10]

In 2007, Glide provided 750,000 meals per year through their community clinic, which serves more than 3,000 homeless people. They provided over 100,000 hours of licensed childcare and quality after-school programming to over 325 clients in 2007. They provided emergency supplies to 2,190 individuals in 2006. And they booked 5,707 shelter beds and helped 120 homeless persons move into permanent housing in 2007.[11] According to their website, Glide’s daily Free Meals program served 934,000 meals in 2009.[12]

The church also provides HIV testing, mental and primary health care, women's programs, crisis intervention, an after-school program, creative arts and mentoring for youth, literacy classes, computer training, job skills training, drug and alcohol recovery programs, free legal services for the homeless, housing with case management, and much more.

In 2009, The Glide Foundation was rated a Top Non-Profit Organization by Philanthropedia.org [11]

Music

Glide Ensemble

The Glide Ensemble, the church's Gospel Choir currently maintains about 100 members.[13] The Glide Ensemble choir held its first rehearsals in 1969 and has been an integral part of Sunday Celebrations ever since.[2] Directed by John F. Turk Jr. and Ron Sutherland and backed by a full band called the Change Band, the choir groups perform every Sunday at Glide’s 9am and 11am Sunday Celebrations [13] Every Sunday’s celebration is available on CD and DVD from the church’s website and at the church itself. Revenue from this source helps the church fund its many charitable programs.

In 2005, SF Weekly named the Glide Ensemble and Change Band “Best Gospel” in their annual “Best Of San Francisco” awards.[14]

Discography

The Glide Ensemble and Change Band have released 9 albums since 1991, which are sold on the first level of the church. All proceeds help fund Glide Foundation’s various social service programs.[13]

Podcasts of every Sunday celebration are available on Glide’s website.

Youth and Children’s Choirs

Glide Ensemble Member Errin Mixon leads a choir of teens and young adults that rehearses once a week and performs at services once a month.[15] Glide also runs a choir for Elementary school children, directed by Classy Martin. The Children’s Choir sings during Sunday Celebrations several times a year.[15]

Controversy

Largely through the actions of its long-time Pastor Cecil Williams, Glide has become known for its often-controversial views on issues such as same sex marriage. Since Williams became Pastor in 1963, Glide has been called the best-known pulpit in Northern California. Some of Williams’ controversial actions have included:

In pop culture

See also

References

  1. ↑ "One Power Lunch Helps Feed One Million; Annual eBay Auction for Power Lunch with Warren Buffett Gives GLIDE the Resources to Help Those in Great Need". GLIDE. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "1960s: Death and Rebirth". Our Story. GLIDE. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Strasburg, Jenny (1995-02-26). "The Gospel According to the Reverend Williams". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  4. ↑ Rohrer, Megan; Plaster, Joey (2009-10-17). "Urban Specialist Pastors and Their Supporters". Vanguard Revisited. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  5. ↑ Licata, Salvatore J.; Robert P. Peterson (1982). Historical Perspectives on Homosexuality. Routledge. p. 175. ISBN 0-917724-27-5.
  6. ↑ http://www.Glide.org/page.aspx?pid=414 http://www.Glide.org/page.aspx?pid=414
  7. ↑ "CEO Willa Seldon to move on". GLIDE. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  8. ↑ "1990s: Building the Village". Our Story. GLIDE. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  9. ↑ "Our Pastors". Glide Memorial Church. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  10. ↑ "Glide: Meals". Glide Memorial Church. Retrieved 2009-03-12.
  11. 1 2 "Glide Foundation". Myphilanthropedia.org. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  12. ↑ "Feed the Hungry". GLIDE. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  13. 1 2 3 "Ensemble". GLIDE. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  14. ↑ "San Francisco Best Gospel". SF Weekly. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  15. 1 2 "Engage Communities". GLIDE. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  16. ↑ Barrick, Audrey (2009-04-30). "United Methodist Court Rejects Gay Marriage Resolution". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  17. ↑ "Annual Holiday Festival". GLIDE. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  18. ↑ "The Pursuit of Happyness". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  19. ↑ Cook, Katie. "Tales of the City". SF Uncovered. Retrieved 1 December 2013.

External links

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