April 10, 2026

Dear Glide Family,
Grace and peace to you.

On behalf of the GMC Board of Directors, I’m grateful to share an update with our Glide family as we continue our prayerful search for a Senior Minister.

This season of discernment is not simply about filling a position, it’s about strengthening the church’s spiritual leadership for the future.

Since the announcement of the Senior Minister search at the Annual Church Meeting October 5, 2025, the Board has been engaged in a thoughtful and prayerful process of discerning those who feel called to serve Glide in this next chapter of ministry. We have been encouraged by the interest from spiritual leaders who share Glide’s commitment to radical love, liberation, justice, and community.

In the coming weeks, the Board will continue moving through the next steps in the discernment process, including further conversations with selected candidates. Because many candidates are currently serving congregations, we are maintaining appropriate discretion as we continue this sacred work.

Our hope, God willing, is to complete the selection process by May 2026, allowing the church to begin preparing for the next chapter of ministerial leadership.

Ministerial Leadership at Glide

As part of this process, the Board would also like to share a word about the vision for ministerial leadership at Glide.

This season is not about replacing leadership at Glide, it is about strengthening it.

The recruitment of a Senior Minister is not intended to replace the role of Minister of Celebration. Rather, the Board has been prayerfully discerning a model of shared ministerial leadership, where two (or more) ministers serve together to guide the church into the future. We believe this team approach reflects both the needs of our congregation and the opportunities ahead for Glide’s ministry.

In his own season of prayerful discernment, Minister Marvin shared a personal reflection with the Board regarding his decision not to apply for the Senior Minister role:

“My decision not to apply for the Senior Minister role is not a sign of hesitation or lack of growth. It reflects my clarity about where I am called in this season. I remain deeply committed to serving Glide Memorial Church as Minister of Celebration and to continuing to be shaped by this church into the pastor and leader this congregation, this wider community, and this future deserve. I look forward to continuing my ministry with joy, integrity, and collaboration, and to welcoming the next Senior Minister in a spirit of shared service to this church and all those entrusted to our care.”

-Minister Marvin K White

We are deeply grateful for Marvin’s dedication to Glide and celebrate the many ways his ministry continues to shape the spiritual life of our community. His leadership in Sunday Celebrations, Congregational Life Groups, the life of our congregation and community, his service on the Board, and his partnership with church staff and volunteers remain vital to the life and ministry of Glide.

We are grateful for the spirit, creativity, and pastoral leadership Minister Marvin brings to Glide, and for the many ways his ministry continues to nurture and inspire our community. We look forward to continuing to support him in his role as Minister of Celebration, and we are excited about the future collaboration between Minister Marvin and the Senior Minister once that role is filled.

The Board has also listened carefully to feedback shared by members of our congregation regarding the search process. The Board has reflected carefully on that feedback and remains confident that the process established for this search is the right path for Glide, both for this moment and for the future of the church.

We invite the Glide community to continue holding this process in prayer, for the candidates, for the Board, and for our church as we seek the leader who will help guide the church forward in faith, compassion, and justice.

Together, we trust that God is guiding Glide Memorial Church into its next chapter, building on the legacy of love, liberation, and justice that has shaped this community for generations.

With gratitude,
Reggie Johnson
Chair, Board of Directors
Glide Memorial Church