The 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner, held on June 26 at the Double Tree by Hilton at the Monroeville Convention Center, was one part dinner and one part roast to celebrate 25 years of pastoral service of Rev. Dr. William R. and Angie Glaze, senior pastor of Bethany Baptist Church. Reverend Glaze previously served as pastor of Green Spring Baptist Church in Brookneal, Va., and associate pastor of New Testament Baptist Church in Arvonia, Va. Twenty-five years ago, when the search committee at BBC realized they were seriously considering Dr. Glaze, copies of his research papers were secured. His thesis, “The Curse of Canaan and its Relationship to the Black Race” (May 1984) and his dissertation “A Comprehensive Investigation of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ” (May 20, 1987) were read by some of the committee members. BBC was convinced that God orchestrated Rev. Glaze’s experiences and education to prepare him, along with his wife Angie by his side to pastor Bethany Baptist Church making him the 14th pastor of the 118-year-old church.
During the roast BBC walked down memory lane and met some of the people that shaped their pastor’s life. There was Rev. Allen McFarland of Evangelical Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Va., that shared a story of his first meeting with Pastor Glaze. They were standing in a line on a college campus and Rev. McFarland thought that Rev. Glaze was going to be a football player, through conversation McFarland found out that Rev. Glaze was a seminary student and did not have anywhere to stay.
Reverend McFarland offered him a place to stay at his home in Lynchburg, Va., and they have been friends ever since. Reverend McFarland says he could not have made it through seminary without Bill. His personal trainer, Reggie Dulaney, said after workouts, Pastor Glaze slides over to Chick-fil-A. He said Pastor Glaze is the only person he knows who has a charge account at Chick-fil-A.
And then there was Rev. Emiel Glaze, the pastor’s brother who showed up as the pastor of the Mother Ship Connection; he sent the crowd into hysterics in a unique costume complete with Afro wig and walking cane. Reverend Alvin Berkley, of Liberty Baptist Church, let it be known that Rev. Glaze was known as “Bunny Glaze” back in the day, but that he felt Glaze was too big to be called Bunny. Reverend Glaze thanked his family and all who participated in the anniversary celebration and the pastors that came before him. He also thanked his wife, Angie, who he says has left a legacy of her own: Couples Fellowship, Nursery, Pittsburgh Laymen’s Bible Institute and many other ministries.
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