Rev. John T. Schweitzer was the assistant pastor of the Immanuel Lutheran Church under Pastor Hans Haug. He was born in l946 in Lancaster, Pa., and grew up in Leola, Pa.
He attended Millersville State College, majoring in English. He entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia in the fall of 1968. He spent his internship at Bethel Germany Theological Seminary and served as counselor for epileptic students at a church-related institution. There he honed his German to a high degree of proficiency.
After graduation from seminary with the degree of Master of Divinity in l972, he was ordained and began his ministry at Immanuel. He later earned his Ph D. degree from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Pastor Schweitzer became the pastor of Immanuel Church following the sudden and untimely death of Immanuel’s beloved Pastor Hans Haug on September 14, l980.
On April 20, 1991 John T. Schweitzer and Carol L. Schnabl were united in marriage by the Rev. Rinda Rodgers. The wedding took place at Immanuel and many members of the congregation attended. Also attending were Rev. Michael Merkel, Bishop, Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod ELCA, and Rev. Claire Berkat.
In September 2001 Pastor Schweitzer accepted a call from the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Richmond, Virginia. Since his wife, Carol, was already working at the theological seminary there, he accepted this new post in order to be with her. At the time of his departure Pastor Schweitzer had faithfully served the Immanuel congregation for almost thirty years.
