Cecil Williams
The Reverend Cecil Williams will present "We Are All Family: The Intersection of Faith and the LGBT Community" on Tuesday, June 20, from noon to 1 p.m. in the School of Nursing, room N 225.
The Rev. Williams is CEO and Minister of Liberation at San Francisco's Glide Memorial United Methodist Church.
In honor of gay pride month, the event is sponsored by the UCSF Center for Gender Equity, the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on GLBT Issues and the Student Activity Center.
Over the past five years, recent events have highlighted the connection of the LGBT community and religious institutions. For example:
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The first openly gay bishop was ordained in New Hampshire in 2003.
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Almost 4,000 same-sex couples were married in San Francisco in 2004.
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This year, a nationwide symposium in Atlanta discussed the need for better
visibility of LGBT people in the black church.
These events have sparked discussion and debate among individuals from all walks of life - gay and straight, religious and secular - as people consider the role and experiences of the LGBT community within faith-based communities.
Many questions remain, including how does a person of faith (of any religious orientation) reconcile his or her views with the spiritual needs of the LGBT community?
To explore these and other issues, the Rev. Williams will highlight the ways in which individuals and communities of faith can work to resolve some of the conflicts that often arise.
For more than 40 years, the Rev. Williams has expanded the limits of spirituality, compassion and diversity as CEO and Minister of Liberation of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. As minister, author, social activist, lecturer, community leader and spokesperson for the poor and marginalized, he is respected and recognized as a national leader at the forefront of change. His ministry underscores his roots in liberation theology and his commitment to explore and define spirituality that is both meaningful and relevant.
Often considered controversial and radical, the Rev. Williams was one of the first clergymen to take a revolutionary stand for same-sex couples by presiding over their weddings four decades before today's struggle to legalize gay marriage. His vision for the 21st Century church can be seen in Glide's unique and powerful blend of spirituality, principled compassion and cutting-edge programs for those most in need. With a membership of more than 11,000 and located in the heart of the city's toughest neighborhoods, Glide is one of the fastest growing United Methodist churches in America.
For more information, please contact
Victoria Auer at 415/476-5222
