**Cecil Williams: A Biography**

Cecil Williams is an influential American pastor emeritus of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco, California, renowned community leader, and author. He was born on September 22, 1929, in San Angelo, Texas, and his life and work have been significantly shaped by his Human Design as a Manifesting Generator. This energetic type is characterized by a powerful ability to respond to life’s opportunities, which Williams exemplified throughout his career.

Williams received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Huston–Tillotson University in 1952 and was one of the first five African American graduates of the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1955. In 1963, he became the pastor of Glide Memorial Church, where he embraced his Sacral Inner Authority to create an inclusive environment, welcoming all individuals to participate in services. His strategy to respond to the needs of his community led him to found the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in 1964, making significant strides in the gay rights movement during a pivotal time in American history.

Throughout his tenure, Williams hosted political rallies featuring prominent figures such as Angela Davis and the Black Panthers, and he engaged with diverse personalities like Bill Cosby and Billy Graham. His commitment to social justice was evident when he attempted to negotiate the release of Patty Hearst during her kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Drawing from his experiences in the civil rights movement and his 1/3 Profile, which embodies a mix of trial and error learning, Williams was one of the first African-Americans to advocate for gay rights. He delivered a groundbreaking speech at the Society for Individual Rights in San Francisco in 1964, encouraging the LGBTQ+ community to leverage their voting power to effect change.

Williams was married to school teacher Evelyn Robinson from 1956 until their divorce in 1976, and they had two children: a son, Albert, and a daughter, Kim. In 1982, he married poet Janice Mirikitani, with whom he collaborated on the book *Beyond the Possible*, published in 2013. Williams is also the author of *I’m Alive: An Autobiography*, published in 1980.

His life reflects the themes of love and connection inherent in his Incarnation Cross, the Right Angle Cross of The Vessel of Love (46/25 | 15/10). With channels such as 43-23, 57-20, and 20-10, Williams has demonstrated a unique ability to communicate profound insights and foster deep connections within his community.

Cecil Williams’s legacy continues to inspire many, as he embodies the principles of love, inclusion, and social justice, making him a pivotal figure in both religious and civil rights movements in America.