Melody Webb was born and raised in Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Music Education in vocal/choral music from Mississippi State University. She also completed seminary coursework at the Saint Paul School of Theology.

Her early career includes teaching in an NAEYC-accredited preschool, teaching elementary music education, and leading youth and children’s choirs in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. In 2008, a job change for her husband brought her to Ankeny, IA, where she directed choirs of all ages at Ankeny First United Methodist Church for eight years, eventually serving as the Director of Worship Ministries.

During that time, she began to experience a call to pastoral ministry and was licensed as a pastor in the United Methodist Church in 2018 and has served appointments as Lead Pastor of Maple Grove UMC (West Des Moines) and Polk City UMC.

After a decision to leave the United Methodist denomination earlier this year over issues of inclusivity, she felt a call to return to working with children, and was excited to find an opportunity to combine her love for children, her passion for ministry, and the ability to continue pursuing a path to ordination in an affirming and inclusive church here at Plymouth!

Melody is married to Thomas, who is the Associate Director of R&D at Kemin Nutrisurance in Des Moines. Together, they have three young adult children: Anne Marie, who is a UMC Youth Director in the Denver area, Caleb, who lives in Ankeny and is finishing a degree in Computer Science, and Mary Katherine, who is studying musical theater in New York City.