Staff & Leaders

Lead Pastor

Rev. Dr. Mary Kay Totty was appointed Lead Pastor beginning July 2020. Mary Kay grew up in the South earning a bachelor of art degree in Religious Studies/English Literature at Louisiana State University and a master of divinity degree from Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University. In 2015, Mary Kay completed her doctorate of ministry degree in Arts and Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington D.C. She is a United Methodist ordained elder having served churches of various sizes in Nebraska, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.

Mary Kay treasures the rhythm of the church year flowing from one liturgical season to the next. She enjoys planning worship, preaching, teaching, working with congregations to achieve goals and to embody grace through all the various ministries. Mary Kay is married to Rev. Stephen Griffith, a United Methodist ordained elder. They live in the Highlands Neighborhood of nearby Lincoln. In her free time, Mary Kay enjoys creating art — tatted lace, watercolors, and paper crafts.

Pastor of Congregational Care

Rev. Jen Davidson has two degrees in music education and spent the first 25 years of her career teaching K-12 music in public schools. After completing her international certification as a facilitator and mediator, she then coached leadership and culture change in schools and non-profit organizations. Her lifelong love and interest has been in theology and religion. She’s taken courses a dozen times at programs in Scotland and Wales and studied nearly 20 summers at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State. Jen completed the two-year spiritual direction program through the Episcopal Church in North Carolina in 2015 and graduated from the three-year Nebraska UCC Heartland Association ministry program in 2016. She was ordained by the United Church of Christ in 2017.

Jen joined the staff at SUMC in July 2024. As Pastor of Congregational Care, she works closely with our Faith Community Nurses to visit members in care facilities and who are homebound. Pastor Jen also assists with hospital visits and on-call needs. She teaches workshops and short term classes, and launched our Cancer Care Ministry in spring 2025. Jen grew up in West Virginia, has lived in 10 states, and has one daughter, Kate, and a grandson, Arthur.

Director of Music & Worship Technology

A life-long member of Seward United Methodist Church, Wess joined the SUMC leadership team in 2018. Wess assists with planning worship and selects hymns & songs to enhance the scripture readings and sermon each week. Wess conducts our Chancel Choir, Handbell Choir, and Praise Team and works in partnership with various musicians and our audio/visual team. Wess shares the joy of music with children during our Wednesday after-school programs, through the production of an annual Christmas program, and each summer at Vacation Bible School. Wess can also be found assisting various groups and teams with their communication, publicity, and technology needs. Wess was baptized, confirmed in faith, and married at SUMC. He and his wife Shannon live in Seward with their son, Gavin.

Director of Children & Youth Ministries

Born and raised in Seward, Mary Beth was blessed to be a part of the Seward United Methodist Church throughout her youth. Sunday school classes, Christmas programs, mission trips, and Godparent Group were just a few of the wonderful memories made during her years at SUMC. She struggled to find another church that felt like home as she traveled around the country for college and then for life on the move as a military spouse. When her husband, Rick, retired from the United States Air Force in 2022, they were excited to move back home to Nebraska. Coming full-circle, Mary Beth and Rick are happy to be living close to family and friends again, and are thankful for the chance to give their children – Arthur, Mavis, and Thomas – the opportunity to grow up in a wonderful church family as well. Recently joining the SUMC staff as Director of Children & Youth Ministries in August 2024, Mary Beth is excited to have the opportunity to give back to the church and community that helped raise her. She helps develop and oversee the faith formation ministries for the children and older youth in the SUMC congregation.

Administrative Assistant

A Seward native, Emily joined the SUMC staff in 2024. She produces church communications, maintains membership records, coordinates finances, and works with various committees and groups at the church to assist them in their ministries. A member of the SUMC congregation, Emily has served as a volunteer member of the Bright Beginnings Child Development Center Board of Directors since 2018. She and her husband Layne were married at SUMC in 2021 and live in Seward with their daughter and son.

Director of Bright Beginnings Child Development Center

Valerie Schack joined the BBCDC team as director in 2023. She brings more than 27 years of experience in childcare. As an early childhood educator, Valerie has a special interest in classroom management, curriculum development and helping children thrive. She believes building positive relationships among children, staff and families is key for a child’s success.

Valerie previously directed the nonprofit Coon Rapids Day Care Center in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and has served as an assistant director, lead teacher, school education manager, and curriculum coordinator for several faith-based childcare centers in Minnesota. She holds a bachelor’s degree in child psychology and two master’s degrees in elementary education and early childhood education.