HomeMy WebLinkAboutHR Rev. Dr. Jane “Janie” Adams Spahr
City of San Rafael
Proclamation in Recognition of
REV. DR. JANE “JANIE” ADAMS SPAHR
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, affectionately known as "Janie," is a Presbyterian
minister who has dedicated her life to advocating for justice and equality,
particularly for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+)
community; and
WHEREAS, ordained in December 1974 by the Presbytery of Pittsburgh, Dr. Spahr served
as Assistant Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Rafael, California, from
1975 to 1979. In 1979, she became Executive Director of the Oakland Council of
Presbyterian Churches but was compelled to resign in 1980 upon coming out
as a lesbian; and
WHEREAS, in response to institutional exclusion, Dr. Spahr embraced her identity and
ministry by serving from 1980 to 1982 as Minister of Pastoral Care at the
Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco's Castro district, providing
spiritual support to the LGBTQ+ community; and
WHEREAS, in 1982, she co-founded the Ministry of Light, later known as the Spectrum
Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns in Marin County,
California, where she served as Executive Director for over a decade,
establishing vital programs such as the Marin AIDS Project, PFLAG Marin, and
youth and family support services; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Dr. Spahr was called to serve as one of four co-pastors at Downtown
United Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York, but was denied the
position by the Presbyterian Church's highest court due to her sexual
orientation, leading to the formation of "That All May Freely Serve," an
initiative advocating for inclusivity within the church; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, the Spectrum Center merged with the Marin AIDS Project to form The
Spahr Center, a nonprofit named in her honor, which provided life-saving
support services, community education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals
and people living with and affected by HIV in Marin County; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, Dr. Spahr has been instrumental in the formation of the Marin LGBTQ+
Center which recently celebrated its opening at the Multicultural Center of
Marin; and
WHEREAS, her unwavering dedication to justice, her pioneering role in LGBTQ+ ministry,
and her compassionate leadership have inspired countless individuals and
contributed significantly to the advancement of civil rights and inclusion
within religious communities.
WHEREAS, Dr. Spahr has officiated numerous same-sex marriages, challenging
denominational prohibitions and facing ecclesiastical trials, yet remaining
steadfast in her commitment to equality and pastoral care; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Rafael recognize
and honor the Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr for her extraordinary contributions to social justice, her
courageous advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights within the faith community, and her enduring legacy of
compassion, resilience, and transformative leadership.
Kate Colin
Mayor