Pastor Biographies

Send a Message to Rev. Fowler

Reverend Dr. Frank L. Fowler III, Senior Pastor

Dr. Frank Fowler is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church. He is a native of Hackettstown and Trinity was his home church as a youth. After earning a BA degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and a Masters of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, he served for two years as an Associate Pastor in Plainfield, New Jersey, and eight years as pastor of the United Methodist Church of Newfoundland, New Jersey. During that time he earned a Ph.D. degree from New York University.

He is married to Karen Fowler, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who is an accountant. Together they have five daughters, Faith Evans, Angela Fowler, Christina Fowler, Savannah Watson and Emily Watson. They live in Great Meadows, New Jersey.

Dr. Fowler is an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church and a clergy member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the UMC.

Send a Message to Rev. Vega Perez

Reverend Eunice Vega Perez, Associate Pastor

Rev. Vega-Perez Is a graduate of Drew Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity degree, and she was fully ordained as an elder in the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2008. Her prior career was as a nurse, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in nursing from the University of Puerto Rico. She served as a nurse at St. Clares Hospital in Dover for 12 years before receiving her call into the ministry. Before coming to serve as Trinity's Associate Pastor she served in the same capacity for 5 years at the Butler ( NJ ) United Methodist Church.

Eunice has been married for 18 years to Samuel Perez who works as an Engineer at Picatinny Arsenal, and they have three daughters: twins Keila and Kiana, age 15 and Elizabet, age 10. The family reside in Mt. Olive.

Send a Message to Rev. Gebhard

Reverend Don Gebhard, Youth and Children's Pastor

Rev. Don Gebhard earned a B. A. in Psychology and Business Management from Moravian College and a M. Div degree from Drew University. He is currently a Ordained Deacon within the Greater NJ Conference.

Rev. Gebhard served as the Sr. High Youth director at Trinity from 99-01. He then served a year as the Director of Youth Ministries at Bridgewater UMC before coming back to Trinity in the role of "Youth and Children's Pastor."

Pastor Gebhard grew up in Texas, the moved to the Hackettstown area in 1992 to finish High School. He is married to Jana Gebhard, whom is a physical therapist and Hackettstown native. They live in Hackettstown, NJ with their daughter Olivia and spoiled beagle Jules!

Send a Message to Rev. McCarthy

Reverend Joseph McCarthy, Congregational Care Pastor

Rev. McCarthy earned a B.A. in Philosophy at St. Mary's College and an M.S. in Christian Education at Fordham University. He took his M.Div. degree at Seton Hall University.

Ordained in 1969, he served for nineteen years in the Roman Catholic Church. During those years his ministries were parish work, high school teaching and service as Assistant Superintendent of Schools. He also did extensive retreat and spiritual direction work.

Rev. McCarthy transferred to the United Methodist Church in 1988, pastoring congregations in Edison, Washington and Demarest, New Jersey. He has been active as a mentor for those preparing for the pastorate and continues spiritual direction.

His wife Suzanne is the Director of Learning Skills at Centenary College. His daughter, Karissa is a freshman at Muhlenberg College and his daughters, Janelle and Caly are eighth graders at Long Valley Middle School.