Cecil Williams (pastor)
American Methodist minister (1929–2024) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Albert Cecil Williams (September 22, 1929 – April 22, 2024) was an American pastor, civil and LGBT rights activist, community leader, and author who was the pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco.
Cecil Williams | |
---|---|
Born | Albert Cecil Williams (1929-09-22)September 22, 1929 San Angelo, Texas, U.S. |
Died | April 22, 2024(2024-04-22) (aged 94) |
Education | B.A. (Sociology), Huston–Tillotson University (1952) ThM, Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (1955) |
Occupation(s) | Evangelist, activist, community leader, author |
Spouse(s) |
Evelyn Robinson
(m. 1956; div. 1976) |
Children | 2 with Robinson |
He was one of the first five African-American graduates of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Subsequently he hosted political rallies, which drew in very diverse key speakers as result of the events' inclusive and inviting nature. Drawing on his experiences in the civil rights movement, Williams was also one of the first African-Americans to become involved in the gay rights movement.
Under his leadership, Glide Memorial became a diverse 10,000-member congregation of all races, ages, genders, ethnicities, and sexual orientations. To this day, it is the largest provider of social services in San Francisco.