By Julia Kramer · News Editor
Rev. Don Opitz announced his upcoming retirement as Grove City College’s chaplain and senior director of Christian Formation after seven years of service.
Opitz will remain with the college through the end of the 2026-27 academic year and will continue to serve as usual while the college searches for a replacement.
Hired in August 2020, Opitz came with previous campus ministry experience as campus pastor at Messiah College. Opitz replaced Dean Weaver, an alumnus who was the college interim chaplain for two years.
Former Grove City College president Paul McNulty introduced Opitz as a “remarkably experienced” individual who would serve the college community with love and inspiration.
“He is blessed with a deep understanding of the scriptures, passion for discipleship and devotion to pastoral care,” McNulty said.
In 2022, Opitz ushered in several changes to the chapel program to, as he said, “better serve students and provide some fresh ways to help them become the people that God has created and called them to be.”
By switching the twice-a-week 25-minute chapel services with the current Wednesday chapel service, Faith for Life lecture and Friday small groups and worship service, Opitz played a key role in the current chapel program structure.
Junior biblical and theological studies major Brooke Garrett volunteers on the chapel’s worship team and said Opitz has lovingly invested in her and her team over the years.
“He offers for a team such strong discipleship,” Garrett said. “I’ve seen that especially in the way that he has hosted me and my team several times at his own house and just offered such a warm and inviting space to talk about our hopes and dreams for the chapel program.”
Garrett also emphasized Opitz’s influence on her concept of church leadership.
“He has especially taught me, and the people who are involved in leading chapel, that Christian leadership is relational,” Garrett said.
As a pianist on the worship team, Garrett appreciated Opitz’s reminders that her ministry is not contingent on her performance but on her heart for the audience.
President Bradley Lingo hopes the college’s next chaplain can build on Opitz’s impact and has already formed a committee representing faculty, administration, Student Life & Learning, Athletics and the Office of Christian Formation to work together in the search.
“As we give thanks for his ministry, I look ahead with hope,” Lingo said. “We will soon launch a national search for his successor. This is an important opportunity to build on the Rev. Opitz’s ministry and deepen our commitment to being a place where students live in Christian community, grow in discipleship and are formed to be more like Christ.”
While not an alumnus, Opitz grew up in Grove City and graduated from a local high school. Opitz hopes to continue being connected with the college after retiring, “loving his family, writing for exercise, birding and fishing in wonder and praying for his GCC colleagues and students.”
