A Church Where the Homeless, Atheists, Gays and Muslims, Etc., are Welcome
Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco
Wendy and I went to check out the radically-engaged, legendary Glide Memorial Church in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco Sunday. Barack Obama’s pending inauguration and overturning the anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 were the dominant themes at this racially and sexually diverse congregation. This is not your grandmother’s church. This is also a hub that serves over 750,000 meals to homeless and struggling folks each year.
Now why didn’t Obama just pick the Glide pastor to bless his inaguration instead of Rick Warren?
Glide openly those from all faiths and those who have no faith. The opening greeting: Halleujah! Amen! Shalom! Salaam! Namaste! A lively choir belted out gospel music, accompanied by a jazz band. There was lots of standing and clapping.
And talk of New Year’s resolutions. How instead of just resolving to change some petty thing about ourselves generate a revolution by going out into the world to work for change. For example: instead of resolving to diet, work to ensure that all people have access to nutritious and sustainably-grown food.
It’s such a popular church that cars were double-parked outside.
BaltimOregon to Maine 
I think it is a good social gathering for people of many beliefs, but I do not see it as a “church,” which is a term usually reserved for those of the Christian faith. For a true church, sinners and unbelievers are also welcome, but they are also expected to repent of their sins and unbelief, and come to faith and obedience. Since they do not do this, they are not operating as a church, but more of a multi-cultural entity, which is fine for mutual understanding and fellowship. Any good works is acknowledged here.
Obama, since his own pastor got him in trouble, chose to pick a Christian pastor from a church he somehow identified with. Rick Warren is not of particular interest to me, since I disagree with him on some things, but he is more in line with the Christian definition than this group leader.
marianne
http://heavenawaits.wordpress.com/
Marianne
January 10, 2009 at 6:33 am
busted. no comeback?
rd
January 11, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I just didn’t want to dignify what she said. Sorry Marianne but I don’t agree with you. Glide seems to really be living out a social gospel and not just preaching a blind faith. Didn’t Jesus say something about whatever you have done to the least you have done to me?
baltimoregon
January 11, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Have you seen the movie The Believers? http://cart.frameline.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=T642
Now THAT’S a church, and religion. I get the feeling you might like it.
Lelo
January 21, 2009 at 6:03 pm
No. Cool, I’ll have to check it out. Where is the church?
baltimoregon
January 21, 2009 at 6:21 pm
It’s not a church, but I think anywhere this group would gather and sing would become one. It was just a really uplifting movie that I saw at Portland’s Q Center this past year. I don’t even know if it’s a movie you can rent. See, aren’t I helpful? NOT. P.S. Thank you for stopping by my blog and commenting: now I’ve found a new blog, yours, to read!
Lelo
January 21, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Cool, even better that it’s not a church. I love your food blog. Any suggestions for other good Portland area ones?
baltimoregon
January 21, 2009 at 11:08 pm