Meet Our Staff


  • Meet Pastor Tommy

    I grew up in Austin and attended the University of Texas, where I got an undergraduate degree in English. I then attended law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where I met my wonderful wife, Kirsten. We have three awesome children: Caitlin, Rachel, and Jack. I practiced law for 27 years before finally heeding God’s call to ordained ministry in 2011. And I haven’t looked back since!


    "Why I love it at SUMC"

    Why do I like working here? It’s the people. I love the people I work with. They’re easy to get along with and Christ-filled. They’re really good at what they do and they’re just really great people. I also love Salado. The people here have this wonderful mix of age and experience that I doubt you get many places. But most of all, I love this congregation. The folks here genuinely love one another. We’re a close-knit family. And at the same time, we’re eager to welcome anyone and everyone to experience the love of Christ along with us.

  • Director of Finance/Office Administrator

    Tammye Bass

    Meet Tammye

    I was born and raised in Pasadena, Texas and life events led me to Central Texas in 2000. I have two amazing daughters, KaRonna & Kasey, two terrific sons-in-law, Stephen & Cyrus, and four of the greatest grandkids ever: Ke’Andre, Kayslee, Kaicyn & Jethro. As a young woman, my goals in life were to be a great mother and to have a career like my mother who was a church administrator. My kids make me believe I am a great mother, and my career is very similar to my mother’s career, so I am truly blessed.

    One of the best decisions of my life was accepting the offer to work as an Office Manager at Salado United Methodist Church in 2004. From the very first meeting with Staff Pastor Parish Relations committee members, everyone at SUMC has treated me as family. I love my coworkers, we all work together as a great team, and everyone at SUMC. Through my employment at SUMC, I can participate in ministry and outreach with a great church family.

  • Administrative Assistant

    Andrea Heater

    Meet Andrea

    I spent my youth as a military brat and upon graduation from college, I joined the Army. I spent over 20 years in the military before retiring here in Salado, TX. While in the Army, I obtained my master’s degree and served two deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Since retirement, I have worked here at SUMC, gone on mission trips to Africa, Belize, and Sager Brown and have supported local mission and currently serve as the vice-president of the local pantry, Heart and Hands Ministries of Bell County. I also spend as much time as possible with my family.


    “Why I love it at SUMC”

    I love working here because it is a very loving and understanding environment. I have enjoyed working with all the congregants on both routine and special tasks and events and travelling with them on international and local missions. I also have the best co-workers! The focus in the office is on being good servants and stewards of our church, it’s congregants and resources with a very strong emphasis on the extreme importance of family.

  • Director of Music and Fine Arts

    Terry Livingston

    Meet Terry

    I grew up in Madisonville, Tx and attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where I received an undergraduate degree in Music Education. I began teaching at North Belton Middle School in 2016 where I met my amazing wife, Kelsie Livingston. We have two beautiful boys: Hayes and Micah. I have been the Director of Music and Fine Arts at Salado UMC since June of 2017. I accepted the position of Head Choir Director at Lake Belton High School in the Spring of 2020 where I have worked to create a culture of kindness and success.


    "Why I love it at SUMC"

    Why do I like working here? I feel valued as an important member of the staff. I get to spend time worshipping our God by creating music with people who look forward to meeting each week. I get to share my life with people who genuinely care and invest in me and my family. This congregation and staff have prayed and cared for my family during difficult times and have shared in our joys. We are always reminded of the kind and open hearts of this congregation.

  • Children's Ministry Director

    Lindsey Schaetz

    Meet Lindsey

    I joined Salado United Methodist Church as the children’s minister in 2024 where I oversee all preschool & children’s ministries, coordinate a variety of children’s activities & events, develop bible lessons, and work closely with parents & adult volunteers. I earned my Bachelor of Education degree from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and I taught kindergarten and first grade for 8 years in the Dallas area. Some of my hobbies include making family memories with my husband, Dillon, and our three children and organizing, reading, gardening, and baking. 


    "Why I love it at SUMC"

    For me, it’s the kids! I could not love them more. It brings me immense joy to teach young children about God’s love for them. Getting to witness the kids learning and growing in their faith is so rewarding!

  • Director of Witness & Adult Ministry Coordinator

    Salina Brown

    Meet Salina

    I am a native Texan and grew up primarily in the western part of the state. I was raised in the Christian faith and have been a life-long United Methodist. My higher education was completed at Texas A&M University, where I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I am married to Patrick (whom I have known since Jr. High), and we are the parents of two wonderful sons, Quade and Wrook.


    "Why I love it at SUMC"

    Our family began attending SUMC in 2004 after moving to Salado, and I have been a member of the staff since 2009. It has been a blessing to work alongside good friends and faithful church staff members in the service of this congregation and community. Our church is filled with kind and loving people who live out their faith through caring action guided by the study of scripture. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we believe in the possibility of transformation for ourselves and for the world. Our faith grounds us, too. From Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul...”

  • Director of Student Ministries

    Paul Corder

    Meet Paul

    I grew up in the Permian Basin in West Texas. I moved to Abilene to attend college at Hardin-Simmons University, earning an undergraduate degree in Communication and a Master’s in Religion. I worked in management for almost 20 years while doing music ministry on the weekends before feeling a call to full-time ministry in 2016. I am currently finishing up my Master of Divinity at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, and I am a certified candidate for ordination as a deacon in the United Methodist Church, hoping to be provisionally ordained in the summer of 2025.


    "Why I love it as SUMC"

    I love working at SUMC because of the wide variety of wonderful people I get to work with and be in ministry with. Our staff is always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needs it, and we all work together to support each other and our congregation. We have a great group of diverse students who constantly teach me lessons about God. They are such a blessing! I am also blessed to work with wonderful volunteers who demonstrate servant leadership every day. SUMC is such a supportive church. We work all over the world to make disciples of Jesus as far away as Africa and as close as our next-door neighbors. It’s a great place to be!

  • Parent's Day Out Director 

    Terri Tepera

    Meet Terri

    I am the Director of Salado United Methodist Church Parent’s Day Out. I have been involved in this wonderful program for 17 years and absolutely love my job. I have been married to my husband, Bill, for 32 years and we have two grown children. Shelby lives in Dallas, TX and Ryan lives in Houston, TX.  Both are graduates of Texas A&M. My husband and I enjoy being empty nesters and spending time with our miniature dachshund ‘Winne Bee’.  I love to bay fish in Rockport, travel to England and spend time on our land in Holland, TX. 


    "Why I love it at SUMC"

    SUMC has always been welcoming of myself and the Parents Day Out program. The SUMC staff members and SUMC church family are kind, generous and supportive.  I have been blessed to be a part of this amazing church.

  • Property Manager

    Richard Doney

    Meet Richard

    I grew up in Montana on the northern boundary of Yellowstone Park hunting, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. I joined the Army to see the world. I settled in Texas at the end of my enlistment. I married my wife Emily in 1996 and we have one son, Joseph. He has been my focus and pride of both me and his mom.  I was in commercial construction until 2004 when I took a job here at SUMC as a property manager.

     

    "Why I love it at SUMC"

    Working for Salado UMC has allowed me to be a good and present father.  I love this church and these people. The good Lord willing, I will keep doing what I can to keep this place going.