Our Team

Rev. Matt Cardona
Senior Pastor

Matt became aware of his call to ministry in elementary school. He was raised a Roman Catholic and was captivated at an early age by the ritual of worship and the beauty inherent in a life of faith. He became focused on discovering God’s movement in his life and the lives of those around him. In 2009 Matt accepted the position of Music Director at St. Mark UMC in Austin. He quickly became a United Methodist, as it was the practice of a Wesleyan spirituality where he discovered the language, the tradition, and the movements toward an expression of faith life he had long felt but never realized. Since 2009, Matt has served in several capacities through various UMC churches and faith initiatives. He was appointed to Buda UMC in 2022. 

Matt is happily married to Jeannie Corbitt Cardona. They have an expanding family life with two children, Abel & Emilia, a cat (Mylo), a dog (Hank) and a fish (Razzle Dazzle). They love walking/hiking, long breakfast and dinner conversations with coffee, and generally, they love laughing and sharing stories.

Rev. Jeannie Corbitt Cardona
Associate Pastor

Jeannie is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).  Her faith was shaped in large part by the church she grew up attending in Conway, AR, her family of philosophy professors, the trails of national parks, and the classrooms of Centre College in Danville, KY. In the beauty, challenges, wisdom, and relationships that characterized all of these contexts, Jeannie was confronted by God’s call to ministry. Answering that call led her to Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (first for an M.Div and later as Director of Church Relations) and to Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, TX, where she served as Monie Pastoral Resident. She joins the staff of Buda UMC with gratitude and joy.

Diana Woods
Social Services Coordinator

Diana was consecrated as a Deaconess by the United Methodist Women Board of Deaconesses and Home Missioners in 2018 and commissioned by the Rio Texas Conference to serve as Social Services Coordinator at Buda UMC.
She oversees the Food Pantry Ministry and Community Partner Program which provides food assistance, state and federal application assistance, and advocacy for access to social services and healthcare. 
She previously served as local unit president of the United Methodist Women, president of the Hill County District UMW, and now serves on the nominating committee of the Rio Texas Conference UMW. She additionally serves on the Rio Texas Conference Transforming Communities Vision Team.
For more information on the ministry of Deaconesses and Home Missioners visit https://www.unitedmethodistwomen.org/dhm.

Morris Nelms
Music Minister

Morris grew up in Frederick, OK and has worked at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Paul’s Valley, OK. He began with Buda UMC as the Praise Band Director in the Fall of 2005. He lives with his wife Beverly and their pets.

Tyler Rouse
Worship Ministry Associate

Tyler grew up in Irving, Texas and is currently a student at Texas State University majoring in History and Communications with a minor in Political Science. He has worked as an intern in the music and youth ministries at Plymouth Park Baptist Church. Tyler joined Buda UMC as the Accompanist in March 2019. Tyler lives with his wonderful dog.