Guide to the Janie Spahr Papers

Reverend Dr. Jane (Janie) Adams Spahr describes herself as a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister. She was ordained by the Presbytery of Pittsburgh in December 1974. From 1975 to 1979, she was assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church (San Rafael, California). In 1979, she became executive director of Oakland Council of Presbyterian Churches, where she was asked to resign in 1980 because of being a lesbian. She began her "out" liberation work with and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people as the Minister of Pastoral Care in the Castro area of Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco from 1980 to 1982. In November 1982, she helped found the Ministry of Light, which became the Spectrum Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns. She served as their executive director for over 10 years. In November 1991, she was called to serve as one of four co-pastors at Downtown United Presbyterian Church (DUPC; Rochester, New York). She was denied that call by the denomination's highest court in November 1992, which then led to the formation of That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS). In March 1993, DUPC invited Spahr to become their evangelist to spread the good news by "personing the issue" and challenging exclusive church policies. Spahr has traveled throughout the United States, educating and informing Presbyterians and others working on behalf of greater inclusiveness for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.