Our beloved Pastor Jan was born and raised in Bayside, NY, as a minister’s daughter to Rev. John H. Meyer. Her father served churches in Berne, NY, and two in Queens, NY. Pastor Jan pursued her undergraduate studies at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, graduating in 1984 with a B.A. in Physical Education and a minor in Religion. She later attended New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, NJ, earning a master’s in divinity in 1988.
During her seminary years, Pastor Jan extended her senior year to gain more experience. She took classes, worked at Community Church in Douglaston alongside her father, and participated in Clinical Pastoral Education at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. Pastor Jan was ordained on June 26, 1988, by the Queens Classis, becoming the fourth generation in her family to serve as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America, following her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. She was the first woman pastor among these generations.
Since her ordination, Pastor Jan has served at the Reformed Church of Bound Brook in South Bound Brook, NJ, and Living Springs Community Church, a new church for the Regional Synod of Albany. She also served briefly as an interim pastor at West Glenville Reformed Church. Alongside her pastoral duties, Pastor Jan began working as a Chaplain at Community Hospice.
On April 2, 2000, Pastor Jan was installed as the pastor of Bacon Hill Reformed Church by the Classis of Schenectady, where she currently serves three-quarters time and continues to work three-quarters time as a Hospice Chaplain. Recently, Pastor Jan celebrated 24 years at Bacon Hill and is approaching her 25th anniversary as a Hospice Chaplain in June. Throughout her career, Pastor Jan has demonstrated unwavering dedication to her ministry and community.
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