Our Pastor

Pastor John Lodge was born and raised in the Ohio Valley. The family owned and operated a tree farm as a part time family business when the kids were in high school and college. After John's father died, the tree farm slowly deteriorated due to the fact the kids were grown and out of the area.

 

John received his undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University. He then served his country in that Asian conflict. After the service, he worked for a strip mining company for a short time before answering the call of God to attend seminary to become a minister. He attended Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for both his Master of Divinity Degree and his Doctor of Ministry Degree.

John served his first church in Steubenville, Ohio for fifteen years, First Presbyterian Church in Danville, IL for 10 years and now at First Presbyterian Church of Leesburg for the last five years. During these pastorates, John has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and Rotary International. John was instrumental in establishing a free clinic for the working poor in Danville. John was one of the founding members of the board for Faith in Action, a program that reaches out to the elderly using volunteers from various supporting churches. He is chairperson of the Committee on Representation, along with being Chairperson of the local Mission Council of Presbytery.

John is married to Mary Emma Dieckmann Lodge. Mary Emma was born in Charlotte, North Carolina but raised mostly in the Atlanta, Georgia area. She graduated from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta for her undergraduate degree. She attended Pitttsburgh Theological Seminary with John and received a Master's of Religion. She also has a Master's of Education in Administration from Eastern Illinois University. She is an educator but claims her best role is that of being a wife and mother. John and Mary Emma have two daughters, Sarah and Rachel.

 

Meet the church staff.