The Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, a North Side native who is nationally known as a champion for openly gay and lesbian clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA), will speak Sunday at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

Ms. Spahr, 64, was ordained in 1974, four years before the first explicit ban on gay ordination in what is now the Presbyterian Church (USA). At the time she was married and has said she did not realize that the powerful feelings she had always had for women meant she was a lesbian.

The ban did not affect her ordination because she was "grandfathered" into the clergy, but she has been banned from pastoring any congregation since 1991.

Her first call after ordination was as pastor of Hazelwood Presbyterian Church, but she has spent most of her ministry in California.

Ms. Spahr will preach at the 11 a.m. service and speak again at an interfaith service in the church social hall at 2 p.m.