Rev. Grant M. Buttermore, Jr - Senior Pastor

Greetings All!

It is a joy to be a part of the ministry here at First United Methodist Church in Tuckerton.   My wife, Donna, and I have been blessed to serve here since July of 2002.  Donna and I were introduced on a blind date in Cumberland, Maryland, where she was an elementary school teacher and I was a District Scout Executive for Boy Scouts of America.  We moved to Seattle, WA, where I worked for the State Parks running a Young Adult Conservation Corp Camp, and Donna worked in retail.  Our daughter Nicole was born in Washington, and, shortly after that, I answered God’s call to ministry, something that I had been struggling with since high school.  We moved to Newton, NJ, where I served as the associate for the Newton UMC, while attending Drew Theological Seminary.  Our second daughter Kristen was born there.  Our next appointment was to the Midvale UMC in Wanaque, New Jersey.  From there we were appointed to serve beyond the local church with the Appalachian Service Project (ASP) based in Johnson City, Tennessee.   ASP brings church youth groups from around the country to do emergency home repair for families-in-need in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.   After 10 years with ASP and 2 more serving Wesley Memorial UMC in Johnson City, we were appointed to the First United Methodist Church of Tuckerton.  Since both of our daughters are now grown and on their own, the house is usually quiet, except when Tuckerbelle, our 90+ lb. German Shepherd/Golden Retriever “puppy” decides it’s time to bounce her toys down the stairs or bark to warn us of some unknown outside.  We celebrate being here in Tuckerton as part of a vibrant chuch community, and we sincerely hope that you will come join in serving and bringing glory to God.

Rev. Hector A. Burgos - Associate | Hispanic Ministry

Reverend Burgos was born on September 24, 1974 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He graduated from Lincoln Military Academy on 1992 with high honors, completing the JROTC program where he earned the Governor’s Leadership Award. In 1998, he earned a Bachelor degree in Business Administration with a concentration in strategic marketing and management, while also earning certification as a network administrator and website designer.

In March 2002, Reverend Burgos moved to NJ shortly after deciding to answer God’s call to ministry, and he entered the pastoral licensing school at Perkins School of Theology at SMU in Dallas Texas. In August 2004, he received his first pastoral appointment as an associate pastor at West Creek UMC where he developed their Christian Education department and implemented an adult Bible study that continues today. Later that year he was appointed as an Associate Pastor at FUMC of Tuckerton with the task of starting an outreach ministry with the Hispanics in the community. Currently, House of Hope is actively serving the Hispanic community of the area, offering several services. Reverend Burgos is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Divinity at Drew University in Madison, NJ.

Other involvement:

• Lifelong Methodist
•  President of the Hispanic Caucus of GNJAC from Jan 2002-December 2004
• 2005 – Member of the GNJAC Bishop Vision Team
• 2007-present – member of the communications and advocacy committees of MARCHA, the National Hispanic Caucus in the UMC
•  2008 – present: Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Eirene Immigration Center.

Rev. Tom Trainer - Retired Associate

Reverend Trainer brings a wealth of experience to the First United Methodist Church of Tuckerton.

• Ordained Elder Northern NJ Conference-United Methodist Church
• Pastorates:
  • 1954-1956-5-church rural parish, Middlefield, NY
  • 1956-1968-Pine Brook, NJ
  • 1968-1978-Arlington in Kearny, NJ
  • 1978-1983-Irvington, NJ
  • 1983-1992-Englewood, NJ
  • 1992-Retired
  • 1994 to present-Retired Associate First UMC-Tuckerton, NJ
• Served on Annual Conference committees on Social Concerns and Mission
• Education
  • SUNY, Oneonta -B.S. in Education
  • Drew University Theological School BD
  • Alfred Adler Institute of Psychology-2 years
  • Member of Order of St. Luke
  • Research Project:  Using the Lectio Divina mediation with a protestant congregation
• Married to Lila Joyce Trainor, a retired high school English teacher, who is a member of United Methodist Women, Eucharistic Ministry, and JOY Group. They have 4 children, 9 grandchildren, and 4 great-grand children

     Reverend Trainer is proud to be a contributor to FUMC’s world outlook: 

• He was an exchange pastor to Northern Ireland 1978-1980, visited Iona, Scotland in 1984, 1999, 2001, and visited Israel in 1988 and 1992, bringing to FUMC a unique international viewpoint.
• FUMC International outreaches:
  •  Home to Scottish pastor studying at Drew Theological School
  •  Developed a  very successful youth ministry between Russia and NJ
  •  Home to the vibrant House of Hope Spanish ministry
  •  Nominated the President of Macedonia for the Methodist Peace Prize