In 1984, The Steele's provided vocals in the Broadway musical, The Gospel at Colonus. This Production highlighted Janice in the singing part of Antigony in theatres across America and abroad. In 1988, Janice and her family performed a variety of material, including material from Colonus, during a four month run at the Lunt-Fontane Theater on Broadway. The attention generated from these shows led to performances at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Today Show, Prairie Home Companion and many television commercials and PBS specials. 

Janice appeared as special guest at several Bay Area events, including the Interfaith Center at the Presidio, The Salvation Army, United Church of Christ Northern California Nevada Annual Conference, Claremont Country Club, Alta Bates Hospital, East Bay and San Francisco Pride, Santa Cruz Civic Center, Sun Micro Systems, and a number of church and community events. 

After receiving a B.A in Theatre Arts, San Jose State University, Janice continued her music and performing arts as a Playwright. Her latest works, “Sin Is the Blame, a comedy” and “Songs of the Soul,” are available for theatrical productions. 

Janice worked as the Executive Director for the HIV/AIDS Ministry of the United Church of Christ Northern California Nevada Conference, Trainer and Event Planner for SMAAC Youth Center, Project Coordinator Parish Nurse Project at the Vesper Society and Health Educator at McGee Avenue Baptist Church and the Event Planner for Out and Equal in the Workplace. Janice also worked as the Interim worship leader and choir Director for the contemporary worship service at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, Sacramento, CA. 

As a member of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ, Janice served on the Elders Board, the Ministers Board, the Women’s Department, the Praise Ensemble and the Restoration Choir. 

Community Activism includes participating in the National Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, Zuna Institute, serving on the Board of Directors of the Black Coalition on AIDS and the Interfaith HIV/AIDS Council, and on the Program Committee at the Interfaith Center at Park Presidio. 

Pastor Janice is a graduate of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree and she is the recipient of the 2007 Paul Wesley Yinger Preaching Award. She is often called upon to speak or deliver the keynote address at various events in the California area, including the keynote speaker for the 2008 graduating class at Pacific School of Religion, the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of the UCC Annual Banquet, and the speaker at the No on Prop 8 Rally at the California State Capital. 

Pastor Janice has been featured in the Sacramento News and Review and her commentaries on social justice issues from a theological perspective are often published in OutWord Magazine. 

Pastor Janice is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served as the Moderator for the Sacramento Valley Association of the United Church of Christ and on the Board of Directors for the California Council of Churches. Today, Pastor Janice contnues to serve on the Sacramento Valley Association Council, The Northern California Neveda Conference Committe on Ministry Section B, Placer County People of Faith Coalition, the United Church of Christ Church Development and Collaboration Team, an Affiliate Pastor of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries and as the senior Pastor at Imani and the Interim Minister at Loomis Basin Congregational Church.

Rev. Janice Steele lives with her life partner, Patrisha. Together, they continue to practice radical hospitality and spread the inclusive love of Christ through word, deed and song. 

To contact Pastor Janice email her at pastorjanice@imaniucc.org.