Janie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1942, sharing her mother's womb with her wonderful twin sister, Joanie. They are the daughters of parents, Chet and Susanna Adams. Janie is the “wife emerita” of Jim Spahr and proud mother of sons, Jim and Chet. She is the “sister-in-love” of Bill Fenton (Joanie's partner) and Jackie Spahr (Jim's partner). Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr, Janie, as she prefers to be called, describes herself as a lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to justice issues for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community, pursuing connections of liberation with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom.

Janie was ordained a Presbyterian Minister in December 1974 to the Hazelwood Presbyterian ministry in Pittsburgh, PA, serving with mentor and friend, Wanda Graham Harris. She served 1975-1979 as Assistant Pastor of 1 st Presbyterian in San Rafael, CA. In 1979-1980, Janie became Executive Director of Oakland Council of Presbyterian Churches in Oakland, CA where she was encouraged to resign because of being lesbian.

Janie began her “out” liberation work with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community as the Minister of Pastoral Care in the Castro area of Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco from 1980-1982 when her own Presbyterian denomination did not know what to do with this “lesbyterian”.

November 1982 – Janie founded with many friends the Ministry of Light which became Spectrum Center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns. She served as their Executive Director for over 10 years. From youth groups, parent groups, PFLAG, support groups, family camps, AIDS Ministry, speakers bureau, this ministry has become the L,G, B, T center in Marin County, CA where it continues to flourish. Janie completed her work there on February 28, 1993.

In November of 1991, Janie was called to serve as one of four (4) Co-Pastors at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. She was denied that call by the denomination's highest court in November 1992. By March of 1993, The Downtown Presbyterian Church invited Janie to become their evangelist to spread the good news by “personing the issue” and challenging exclusive church policies. Janie travels throughout the country, educating and informing Presbyterians and others working on behalf of greater inclusiveness for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Since March 1993, she has been literally to the four corners of the continental United States.

During the past six years, Janie has devoted much of her efforts to developing official regions to educate and advocate for a just and inclusive church, resulting in the creation of the position of Regional Partnership Coordinator, held by Lisa Larges, and 8 regions. There are now eight (8) regional partnerships with “out” Evangelists, Rev. Mieke Vandersall, Presbyterian Welcome (NY), Rev. Don Stroud, TAMFS-Baltimore, Mardee Rightmyer and Susan Thomas, TAMFS-South, Rev. Babs Miller, Mission and Grace Presbyterian Church, TAMFS-Texas, Rev. Helen Bailey, New Covenant Presbytery, TAMFS-Texas, TAMFS-NorCal, Presbyterian Promise, TAMFS-Chicago and TAMFS-Michigan are coordinated by Boards as 501C3 organizations. This outreach educational and advocacy ministry is called That All May Freely Serve (TAMFS) sponsored by DUPC in Rochester, NY, and partnered with Westminister Presbyterian Church in Tiburon, CA.

Janie has been active as a co-moderator of Presbyterians for Lesbian & Gay Concerns, now More Light Presbyterians 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 Transgender 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.