Pete has been pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Rutherford since 2007. His dream for our church is that it be a vibrant, spiritual hub; that we provide a place for people to be drawn into the presence of Jesus Christ and sent into the community to serve and care for others.

With a living-out-faith focus, Pete’s hope for care begins at home. Married to Jan Burgess, and raising two great kids, Madeleine and Evan, his dedication doesn’t stop there. Their household includes Kaitlin and Emma Knight who have been living with the family for the past two years. Being a spouse and parent allows Pete to appreciate the time constraints that families experience.

Along the way in his journey, Pete received his Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary and a B.S. in Management at Purdue University. Following school, he pastored in both Indiana and Illinois. For fun, Pete likes to listen to jazz, read, eat desserts, walk the dog, talk with friends, cheer on the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Bears, and enjoy God's sense of humor. "We all need to lighten up sometimes." First Presbyterian Church of Rutherford is lucky to have this man of faith on board.

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Debbie has been the Christian Education Assistant since 2016 but has been volunteering with the First Pres Kids Children's Program since 2015. She is thankful to be part of this wonderful church family and enjoys the work God has her in. She has a passion for working with children of all ages and strives to make a difference in the lives of kids and families as they grow spiritually and come to know the amazing love of God. She enjoys teaching God's word in fun and creative ways.