“Pastor John” Hillmer retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Carrollwood FL at the end of calendar year 2023, having served as Sr. Pastor there since September of 2000. Ordained in Chicago, IL November 29, 1980, he has served congregations as a Pastor of Word and Sacrament ever since.
John is a 4th generation Lutheran Pastor.
Pastor John’s maternal great-grandfather, Dr. Martin Doermann, served congregations in the Chicago area, prior to becoming District President of the Ohio Synod, and a leader of the Foreign Missions Board. His grandfather, Dr. Carl Doermann served as Pastor/Missionary in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, the Tamil-Nadu region of south India from 1920 – 1949. John’s father, the Rev. Sigmund Hillmer, led congregations in WI, MN, and IN. Pastor John has led congregations in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, Dallas and Tampa. Throughout his career and education, John has traveled to Papua New Guinea, Kashmir, India, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Greece, Israel and the former Yugoslavia. John is married (40+ yrs) to Janice– an artist and retired elementary art education teacher at Berkeley Preparatory School, Tampa. They have 3 grown children: Olivia, Ansel and Lukas. John’s interests are: Music (singing, playing piano & organ) golf, physical fitness, and cooking.
B.A. – Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, IN
M.Div. – Christ Seminary Seminex, St. Louis, MO
S.T.M. – Christ Seminary Seminex, St. Louis, MO
Some favorite quotes:
“Music will woo them, but the Word will win them.”
Paul Manz, Organist, composer – John’s college organ teacher
“Everyone prays to God in their own language, and there is no language that God does not understand.”
Duke Ellington
“There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out all fear.” 1 John 4:18