This month we celebrate the work, wisdom witness of the Asian and Asian Pacific Islander (AAPI) community at Glide Memorial Church.  While many are familiar with the life and legacy of Janice Mirikitani, fewer remember the other AAPI pastors and organizations that worked at Glide.  Glide has a long history of storytelling, poetry and ministry of reconciliation.  Centered in the needs of the Glide community, the Tenderloin and the city of San Francisco, Glide Church is continuously updating the ways we cultivate our faith and live out our justice-centered actions.  This blog features a few of the ways that Glide Church has centered the storytelling, art and leadership of the AAPI community.  We hope these stories will inspire you to denounce AAPI hate, to celebrate AAPI art and culture and to center the storytelling of the AAPI community.

The Asian Coalition at Glide Memorial Church

The video above is an excerpt from the 1971 CBS Many Mansions program.  The video highlights the work of The Rev. Tony Ubalde, a Filipino pastor who served as Glide Church’s Minister to the Asian Community from 1969-1971

The Rev. Lloyd Wake and 23 Years of Ministry at Glide Church

The Rev. Lloyd Wake was born on January 12, 1922 in a four room farmhouse in Reedley, California to Japanese immigrants Yempei and Hisayo Wake, the fifth of their eight children. While incarcerated in 1942-43 at Poston Camp II he was drawn to leadership roles among the Christian youth. Eventually he answered the call to the ministry, finishing two years at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky before returning to California to finish his studies at Berkeley Baptist Divinity school, marry Marion Yamabe and serve as student pastor at Berkeley Methodist United Church.

In 1963, while serving as a pastor at Pine Street Church, The Rev. Lloyd was invited to serve on Glide’s board.  He left Pine Street Church to join the ministry at Glide in 1967. During his 23 years of ministry (1967-1989) at Glide he served in many roles, including the Minister of Community Life, the president of the board and the head of facilities.  In 1968 Rev. Lloyd participated in a five-month-long student-led strike at San Francisco State University (SFSU).  The strike, thought to be the longest ever held on a University campus, resulted in the establishment of the College of Ethnic Studies at SFSU.

Some of the many notable ways Rev. Lloyd supported the AAPI community in San Francisco include:

• He helped establish the Asian Law Caucus, serving on its Board for 21 years and as chairperson from 1993-1997
• He chaired the Wendy Yoshimura Fair Trial Committee in the fall of 1975;
• He was arrested for a sit-in protest against martial law in the Philippines;
• He participated in human rights support trips to South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Okinawa;
• He taught at the Pacific School of Religion;
• He supported Redress and Reparations for Japanese and Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII; and
• He served on the Advisory Committee with Janice Mirikitani (Editor) to publish an anthology of Asian-American poetry, essays and graphics called Aion.

Aion (Vol 1:2)

Aion 1:2, p. 57

In addition to his work in the AAPI community, Rev. Lloyd also was known for his work celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ community.  During his time at Glide Church, Rev. Lloyd regularly presided at the commitment service of LGBT individuals.

Ting: The Caldron Chinese Art & Identity in San Francisco –

In 1970, The Glide Urban Center published Ting: The Caldron “as part of its ministry of reconciliation.”  A dialogue about Chinese-American identity through writing, photography, art, poetry and calligraphy, Ting is based on the fiftieth hexagram in the I Ching or Book of Change.  The book includes contributions from: Lorna Logan, Victor Wong, Kenneth Rexroth, Lui-sang Wong, Tseng Ta-yu, Master Choy Kam-man, Gary Snyder, Kay-yu Hsu, Kem Lee, Ruby Lee, Paul Pei-jen Hau, Irene Poon, Victor Wong, Nanying Stella Wong, Lily Tom, Loni Ding, L. Ling-chi Wang, J. Feisheng Wong and others.  A reflection of the intersectional work that is vital to larger societal change, the interior book notes show that the project was made possible, in part, due to the financial support of legendary lesbian icons Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.

Ting, p 36-37

Ting, p. 14

The Southeast Asian Development Center –

The Southeast Asian Development Center (SADC), formerly known as the Vietnamese Youth Development Center,  began its work at Glide in 1977 and had Glide as its fiscal sponsor.   SADC provided young Vietnamese refugees resettling in the Tenderloin with much needed practical services. Over time, the organization moved to its own facility and grew to serve primarily Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese youth.

Join Us in Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month –

These inspiring individuals and organizations are a few of the ways that Glide Church has centered the storytelling, art and leadership of the AAPI community.  We hope these stories inspire you to denounce AAPI hate, to celebrate AAPI art and culture and to center the storytelling of the AAPI community.  Join us in person or on Facebook and YouTube on Sunday May 21st, 2023 as we celebrate AAPI Heritage at our 9 and 11 am Sunday Celebrations.