SAFE ZONE TRAINING
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another .John 13:35
Westminster Presbyterian Church is committed to living into the community within which all people can grow to love God and love the image of God that we find in our neighbors, in ourselves and in creation. We seek an inclusive community where everyone is valued. This is a value we reaffirmed when we committed ourselves to be a More Light Church. We seek to understand each other and listen to the stories of our journeys.
Shannon Brown from Appalachian OUTreach has offered to us a three week class to help us along that journey of inclusion. The goal of these classes is to deepen our understandings of the LGBTQ+ community, terminology and language and the current issues of living in Tennessee.
The class will start after worship and begin at 11:15 and generally go for one hour. (McKinnon Room)
July 21: One Sunday of LGBTQ+ history and current TN laws and how our societal attitudes are influenced by the changing laws
July 28: One Sunday a member of the LGBTQ+ community speaking from the perspective of personal experiences
August 4: One Sunday of Q&A.
If you have any questions contact Gradye Parsons, gradye@wpcknox.org.
I love teaching 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school. I find it is an age where children are beginning to have the ability to discuss topics and form their own opinions. I love watching children discover what the world looks like through their eyes.
Hello, my name is Debbie Babelay. This year I have the wonderful opportunity of teaching the 2-3 year olds in our Sunday School program. They are all precious to me. We have fun learning about God’s love and how each of us is a special child of God. I look forward to their smiling faces each Sunday morning. This is my 3rd year teaching in the Sunday School program. I have also worked with vacation bible school.
I have known Westminster my entire life! I grew up in the church since birth. My faith is rooted in so many wonderful experiences at Westminster such as going on trips with Choristers, Montreat, and a Mission experience to Mexico. I went to college in Alabama at Birmingham-Southern. After college, I lived in Birmingham where I worked in sales. I met and married my husband Wiley there. Jim Carter (former Westminster minister) married us at Independent Presbyterian in Birmingham. Wiley’s career has taken us to New Mexico and Arkansas, and now back to Knoxville. We have been here since 2011. We have 3 children, Ella (11), Grant (7), and Walker (5). I work as the Assistant Director of the preschool at Central Baptist which allows me to have a similar schedule to my children. My favorite job is being their Mom!
Bio: Junior at the University of Tennessee 
I am a senior at UTK majoring in Global Studies with a focus in Economics. I am currently in the process of apply to graduate school for CSP. I love to be outdoors and travel. I also work as an Resident Assistant at Volunteer Hall on campus and enjoy babysitting and baking.
My name is Malena D’Alessandro and I’m a junior studying marketing at the University of Tennessee. I’m originally from south east Michigan where I attended high school at Oxford High School. I am currently part of Spring Sports Ambassadors, Volunteer Team and Best Buddies at UT.