Published March 26, 2021
MELROSE — The First Baptist Church of Melrose welcomes Rev. Terron Tuckett as their pastor. Rev. Tuckett came to Boston from Texas in 2000 to attend the Boston University School of Theology. He holds a Master of Sacred Theology from BU and the same degree from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton. Pastor Terron comes to First Baptist Church with twenty years of experience in family related ministries, Christian Education, and years of leadership experience with local churches. He and his wife, Stefani, an educator, have three children. Abby is in graduate school at Rhode Island School of Design; Gwendolyn will be a freshman at Smith College; and Teddy is in middle school. The family resides in Cambridge.
Members of the church conducted the following interview with Pastor Terron:
What drew you to ministry? I have worked in Christian ministry since college. While the form has changed much over the years, ministry is who I am. I enjoy ministry because each day is different, and because I enjoy helping people.
What does it mean to be a “Baptist” church? From many conversations, I have found people misunderstand the word “Baptist”. They see a national news story with So-And-So Baptist Church doing something hateful and wonder, “Does First Baptist Church support that?” To explain the word, “Baptist” indicates that the church endorses two beliefs: (1) Rites of initiation, or baptism which are done when a person chooses to receive them as opposed to being done as an infant, and (2) Churches are autonomous and make their own decisions. As such every “Baptist” church is different from one another. Regarding our church specifically, we are affiliated with American Baptists, which is the most diverse denomination in the United States.
Tell us about your vision for First Baptist Church. I think people consider coming to church because they have spiritual needs. Thus, as a church, we are a place that ministers to those needs. At our weekly services, we want people to experience God-infused hope to the questions they are asking: What is my purpose in life? Does anything really matter? When do I get to find joy? How do I survive in life’s tragedies? Can my marriage survive? Why did I lose my job? At First Baptist Church, we do not have all the answers, but we trust that God helps us make sense of these difficult questions. If you are looking for a church with perfect people who know everything, you should try somewhere else. That is not us. We are just broken people who put our faith in God.
We have a great location in the center of town. How do you see us using the outside areas? The church has a terrific lawn. We want that easily accessible outdoor space to be a usable resource to the community. We hope the lawn can become a place where people can enjoy a morning coffee or takeout lunch. A local musician is having a concert on the lawn in June. We hope this will be the beginning of many public outdoor events.
How do you envision First Baptist Church making additional connections to the community? I came to a church with a history of helping others. Each Tuesday afternoon, we operate the Pantry of Hope. Also, our building is utilized by other churches, AA, and numerous other groups. I look forward to our church being a friend to the community. And as a friend, we will be there to help others and, likewise, request help when we need assistance. Personally, I have enjoyed connecting with our members of the Melrose Clergy Group and look forward to partnering with other congregations in fostering an even better Melrose.
How does First Baptist Church support Social Justice? The biblical prophets speak frequently about caring for the powerless in their society: the poor, orphans, widows, and foreigners. Similarly, we find Jesus regularly at odds with the religious elite because he befriended outcasts: the irreligious, social pariahs, and sex workers. As a church, we want to follow the teaching of the prophets and live the example of Jesus. Presently, our church attenders are regularly encouraged to love our neighbors. I anticipate the repeated message will compel us to even greater investment in matters related to social justice. An essential part of our journey of faith should include loving, serving, and empowering the less powerful. Further, I advocate for “doing” rather than “talking” and encourage our church members to follow their passions, invest in others, and partner with effective organizations. As such, I hope you find us showing genuine Christ like love for both victims and victimizers. And I do hope you find us befriending the friendless.
We hear you are a pedal biker and bike to work. How long have you been biking and why do you choose this rather than driving? As a child, I was one of those neighborhood kids who roamed about here and there on a bike. By high school, however, that was no longer socially acceptable (shame on me for giving into social pressure). About 15 years ago, I rediscovered my affinity for biking – mostly as the most cost-effective means for commuting. As a person who enjoys the elements and physical activities, biking is a great way to travel. It also provides some health benefits (so long as I stay upright) that I would not get otherwise.
What would you say to people who are considering attending your church’s weekly service? “All are welcome.” We say that a lot because we mean it. All are welcome. There are no expectations of anyone who attends our service or who participates in church events. We do encourage people to move forward on their faith journey, so expect some nudges to get right with God. After all, we are a church. As you think about attending our church’s service, my best advice is, “come and see.” The Bible tells of an early follower of Jesus who encouraged his skeptical friend, “Come and see.” That advice remains applicable today. Presently, people can attend live services in person or on Zoom. We are located at 561 Main Street, on the corner of Upham and Main Street. Our services can also been seen on Facebook and YouTube and the links can be found on the church website, melrosefbc.org. If you would like to have information about our church and its programs, you may call us at 781-665-4470.
