Louis Durham[10] studied the ministry needs in San Francisco and travelled to Methodist churches throughout the region to learn about how they were responding to the needs of young adults.

Donald Kuhn adapted the communications division to meet the needs of a constantly changing community in San Francisco.

John Moore, who was then the church's pastor, helped its staff become part of the Glide Urban Center.

Cecil Williams commenced leadership when he "took over a small congregation and opened it to the neighborhood's poor and disenfranchised — including drug addicts, prostitutes and gay runaways" (as summarized later by the San Francisco Chronicle).

In 1964, the Glide church helped form the Council on Religion and the Homosexual in an effort to close the gap between people of faith and the LGBTQ community.

[14] The church also replaced traditional hymns with jazz and blues music, and its message of "unconditional love and acceptance" would come to resonate with celebrities including Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Bono, Maya Angelou, Robin Williams, Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Stone and Warren Buffett.

Glide Church's Candidates Night and Citizen's Alert help the City of San Francisco recognize that LGBTQ individuals represented a major voting block.

[13] On November 10, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board held a union election by secret ballot at Glide Foundation's Ellis St building.

[23] In 1965, Moore was also a founding member of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual, a group that advocated for gay rights.

Lloyd Wake, a Japanese American, started his service in 1963 on the Glide board where he served for many years as the president.

[27] In the 1970s Rabbi Abraham Feinberg served for four years as Rabbi-in-Residence and had a radio show called Grey Lib that advocated for the rights of seniors.

Fitch was appointed Pastor upon Williams' retirement and transition into the role of Glide Foundation's CEO.

[7] Fitch remained Glide's primary pastor until his 2006 retirement, at which time Williams was succeeded as CEO by Willa Seldon.

[29] In early 2010, Glide announced the resignation of CEO Willa Seldon, who agreed to continue in the position until a replacement was found.

By that time, Glide had already begun a nationwide search for candidates to fill a new leadership role, that of Foundation President, which was to come into effect as Rev.

[37] In August, Karen J. Hanrahan became Glide Foundations' President and Chief Executive Officer, joining a leadership team that includes Executive Director Rita Shimmin, Co-Founders Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani, and Lead Pastor Rev.

Marvin has authored several books, including Last Rights and Nothin' Ugly Fly, which were finalists for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Men's Poetry.

[41] A former meal participant, Dr Fromer's Love Agenda seeks to expand Glide's reach and respond to the urgent needs of the homeless and hungry throughout San Francisco.

In 2024, the Cecil Williams Community Ambassador program was created, providing street level outreach to the homeless in the neighborhood.

[46] The Glide Ensemble, which has teamed up with a host of notable musicians such as Sammy Davis Jr., Leonard Bernstein, Marvin Gaye, Bono, Bobby McFerrin, Maya Angelou, Michael Franti, India Arie and Joan Baez.

In 2005, SF Weekly named the Glide Ensemble and Change Band "Best Gospel" in their annual "Best Of San Francisco" awards.

In the 90's Glide Ensemble Member Errin Mixon led a choir of teens and young adults that rehearses once a week and performs at services once a month.

[48] In the 1960's Glide helped the Tenderloin become recognized as an Anti-Poverty District [49] and was able to receive federal funding to support seniors, LGBTQ individuals and the homeless in the area.

[51] From 2000 to 2022, business magnate Warren Buffett raised over $34.2 million for Glide through an annual auction whose winner was invited to have lunch with him.