Glide Memorial Church is a church in San Francisco, California, affiliated with the United Methodist Church that opened in 1929. 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 such respected figures as Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Clinton; as well as Warren Buffett, who famously contributed the value of an auctioned lunch on eBay.[1]
Contents |
In 1929, 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
Cecil Williams remained sole pastor until 1999, when Rev. Douglass Fitch was named co-Pastor.[7] In 2000, Rev. Fitch was appointed Pastor upon Williams’ retirement and transition into the role of Glide Foundation’s CEO.[8] Fitch remained Glide’s primary pastor until his 2007 retirement, at which time Williams was succeeded as CEO by Willa Seldon. Glide currently has two co-Pastors: the Rev. Donald Guest, who was appointed in 2007, and Rev. Karen Oliveto, who joined Glide in 2008.[9] In early 2010, Glide announced the resignation of CEO Willa Seldon, who agreed to continue the position until a replacement is found.[10]
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.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13] According to their website, Glide’s daily Free Meals program served 934,000 meals in 2009.[14]
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 [15]
Glide is widely known for the Glide Ensemble, their Gospel Choir that currently maintains about 100 members.[16] The Glide Ensemble choir held its first rehearsals in 1969 and has been an integral part of Sunday Celebrations ever since.[17] 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 [18] 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. The ensemble holds open auditions for the Ensemble every Wednesday at 6:30pm in Room 206 of the church, with rehearsals beginning at 7pm.[19] In 2005, SF Weekly named the Glide Ensemble and Change Band “Best Gospel” in their annual “Best Of San Francisco” awards.[20]
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.[21]
Podcasts of every Sunday celebration are available on Glide’s website.
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.[22] 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.[23]
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:
Glide also obtains funding from other various fundraising activities such as their Annual Holiday Festival.[30]