Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr describes herself as a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to justice issues for the lesbian/gay/bisexual community, pursuing connections for wholeness with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom.
Since March of 1993 she has been employed as an Evangelist for 'That All May Freely Serve," a project of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, California, and the Downtown United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York. Rev. Spahr and these two More Light
congregations are working within the denomination to end its discrimination and to help it grow toward greater inclusiveness for all people.
In the fall of 1991, Rev. Spahr was called by The Downtown United Presbyterian Church to be one of the church's co-pastors, the first time a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) had chosen an openly lesbian pastor. The call was challenged by a group of churches in the Rochester-area Presbytery of the Genesee Valley. After several appeals, the Pennanent
Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) refused to allow Rev. Spahr to assume the co-pastor position.
Rev. Spahr travels throughout the country, educating and informing Presbyterians and others working on behalf of greater inclusivity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Since March of 1993 she has been literally to the four corners of the continental United States, visiting Maine, Florida, Washington, and Califonia, in addition to many states in between. She also spends several weeks in Rochester, New York.
Prior to assuming her position as Evangelist, Rev. Spahr was the founder and the first executive director of Spectrum, Center for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Concerns in San Anselmo, Califonia. She previously held several pastoral positions in the San Francisco/Oakland area, and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her birthplace. She has served as executive director of the Council of Oakland (CA) Presbyterian Churches, a position from which she was forced to resign after she "came out," affirming her lesbian identity.
Janie (as she prefers to be called) has been active as a co-moderator of Presbyterians for Lesbian & Gay Concerns and a Founding Sister of Christian Lesbians Out Together (CLOUT) working for greater inclusiveness within the denomination and all churches. She has been recognized by many local, regional, and state organizations for her achievements in ministry. She is one of four co-editors of the book "Called Out: The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Presbyterians".
Janie received a Bachelor of Arts degree
from Pennsylvania State University in 1964, a Master of Divinity in 1970 and Doctor of Ministry in 1987 from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She resides in San Rafael, CA, until the way be cleared for her to accept the call as one of the 4 Co-Pastors of The Downtown United Presbyterian Church.
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