Campus Minister – Rev. Rachel Penmore
Rachel Penmore is from Jacksonville, Florida but loves calling Tennessee home! She grew in the Presbyterian church, and spent every summer working at camp and conference centers. She received her B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Queens University in Charlotte, NC and her M.Div from San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA.
Rachel has served in many different ministry contexts including Yellowstone National Park, Travis Airforce Base, hospital chaplaincy, and the traditional church. Rachel is married to John, who is finishing school at Tennessee State University with a degree in education. They love any chance to be out in God’s creation, hiking, climbing, kayaking and throwing the Frisbee for their dog Frank.
Rachel feels called to live her life welcoming others into this messy beautiful journey of faith. She hopes to create spaces where we can explore how God is moving in this world, and the challenging, hopeful, and grace filled ways we are called to be Christ’s body in the world.
Communications Coordinator – Jaclyn Beeler
Jaclyn Beeler is a native of Smyrna, Tennessee. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership and Ministry from Williamson College. Jaclyn is a lifelong Presbyterian, she grew up attending First Presbyterian Church of Smyrna in Middle Tennessee. She was the Director of Youth Ministries there for three years after graduating from WC.
Jaclyn currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee. Upon her arrival to Knoxville she began working at New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, TN where she was the Children’s Ministries Coordinator for three years. She and her wife, Katherine, are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church here in Knoxville.
Jaclyn has a passion for this ministry, sharing it with others and helping it make its mark on campus.
Student Interns for 2019/2020: Lauren Claxton, Kyla Duncan and Margie Peeler
UKirk, the Presbyterian Campus Ministry is governed by a Board of Directors (instead of a Session, as in a PC(USA) church). The Board of Directors, along with the pastor/director meet once every month, either as a full board or in committee. The Board of Directors is made up of pastors and lay persons from Knoxville, Maryville, and Oak Ridge PC(USA) churches who feel called to serve on the college campus.
Being a mission of the Presbytery of East Tennessee means that UKirk UTK is the college ministry of each of the churches in the PET. We count on the support of each of the churches in the PET to reach out to college students and further the ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on the UT campus.
The Board of Directors for the 2016-2017 school year are:
Emily Sweetland
Chairperson
Farragut Presbyterian Church
Penny Tschantz
Vice Chairperson
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Ken Scarbro
Treasurer
Lake Hills Presbyterian Church
Lisa Stearns
Academic Advisor
Westminster Presbyterian
Jenny Troyer
New Providence Presbyterian Church
Rev. Tim Reynolds
Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville
Daniel Smith
First Presbyterian Church, Knoxville
Nan Scott
Fountain City Presbyterian Church, Knoxville
Katherine Beeler
Alumni Representative
Ken Scarbro
Lake Hills Presbyterian Church
William Owen
Second Presbyterian Church
Seth Reynolds
Student Representative
Margie Peeler
Intern Representative
Aubrey Bader
Resident Representative