The Rev. Thomas Lawton grew up in Oxford, NY on the family farm and attended the Oxford Academy and Central School graduating in 1971. He earned a BA from SUNY at Potsdam, Master of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Divinity from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and a Doctor of Ministry also from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. He was ordained as a minister of the United Church of Christ in 2008.Pastor Tom has served churches in New York and in Michigan. His ministry has also been very involved with the Lakota Sioux on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He has helped lead a number of youth trips to the reservations. He has also participated in spiritual and cultural activities.
Pastor Tom has been married to Susan since 1976. They are blessed with 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren. He is also involved as a member of the Grange on a local and county level.