Grove City College has appointed The Rev. Dr. D. Dean Weaver ’86 to serve as interim chaplain for the College.
Dr. Weaver is lead pastor of Memorial Park Church in Allison Park, Pa., and holds a Doctorate of Ministry in Preaching from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Masters of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a B.A. in History and Religion from Grove City College.
“We are excited to welcome Rev. Dr. Weaver back to Grove City College to serve our students in this special role. His experience here as a student and as a pastor to dozens of GCC alums will be immensely helpful as he seeks to strengthen the spiritual life of our campus,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said.
Dr. Weaver, who will serve in a part-time capacity with the College as he continues in his role as lead pastor at Memorial Park Church, will assume several of the responsibilities of retiring Dean of Chapel F. Stanley Keehlwetter, who is wrapping up a 19-year-career as the College’s spiritual leader. Dr. Weaver will provide interim oversight of the various student-led programs along with leading week day services in the Chapel program in his role.
He previously served congregations in Kenmore, N.Y., Clymer, Pa., and Indiana, Pa.
In 2017, Dr. Weaver was named moderator for the nationwide Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC), the top leadership role in an organization consisting of more than 600 churches and a world missions program. He has been a member of the EPC National Leadership Team since 2013. He is also the president and co-founder of EduNations, a non-profit corporation that builds and operates schools in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
Dr. Weaver was also founder and co-moderator of the New Wineskins Association of Churches, a group of about 200 theologically conservative Presbyterian churches which was formed in 2001 as a result of growing discontent regarding the general direction of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The group merged with the EPC in 2011.
Dr. Weaver and his wife Beth have six children and one granddaughter. A search for a permanent chaplain will begin this summer.