First Congregational Church of Berkeley hosts an exciting author series in cooperation with Berkeley Arts & Letters.Melissa Mytinger, formerly of Cody’s Books, is the primary organizer for the series along with folks at several of the Bay Area’s independent bookstores.

Audio files of past events are available on this page.

Cecil Williams is many things—a civil rights activist who marched on Selma; a philanthropist who has helped raise millions for the poor; a pastor who has devoted his life to spreading the message of God.

But he is perhaps best known as the face of San Francisco’s famed Glide church, where for the past fifty years he has sparked widespread and revolutionary change for a largely disenfranchised community—and inspired others throughout the country and the world to do the same.

In Beyond the Possible, Reverend Williams, along with his wife and Glide founding presidentJanice Mirikitani, tells the story of how he transformed a small parish set in “the last circle of Hell” into a groundbreaking community devoted to radical social change. Williams has repeatedly rattled the establishment and clashed with the more conservative factions of the church in order to implement his remarkable yet unorthodox ideas.

Beyond the Possible is a lesson in universal love, unconditional acceptance, and the power of change from one of the most provocative and revered ministers in the United States.

Tickets $10 ($5 students) in advance only, at Brown Paper Tickets online or 800-838-3006; $12 at the door (no one turned away for lack of funds.)