Our Staff

Rev. Dr. Buran Phillips was called as Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church in January, 2006. He and his wife, Deborah, who is currently the Hunger Action Enabler for the Presbytery of East Tennessee, have three sons, Chris, Sam and Jake. They have served churches in Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Texas and now back again in Tennessee. Buran is originally from Berea, Kentucky. He graduated from Berea College and went on to receive his M.Div. degree from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. He also has a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Vanderbilt University.

Interim Associate Pastor John Muntz came to Westminster at the beginning of 2009 with 40 years of experience as head of staff or interim pastor in a variety of Presbyterian churches in six states. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, he brings special training in transitional leadership and is helping Westminster’s head of staff Buran Phillips and the session to discern a new vision for the church. Rev. Muntz provides general pastoral services and preaches occasionally. He and wife Ibbie are parents of four and grandparents of four.

Peter Van Eenam has served as Organist and Choirmaster at Westminster Church since November 1981, following a similar appointment at Lord of Light Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has frequently prepared choruses for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and has taught choral conducting at the University of Tennessee, where he also led the Women’s Chorale. As a harpsichordist, he plays continuo with the Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as soloist with the orchestra on concerti by C. P. E. and J. S. Bach. He received his degrees from the University of Michigan, where he studied organ with Robert Clark, choral conducting with Lawrence Marsh, and harpsichord and Baroque performance practice with Edward Parmentier and Gary Miller.

Angela Grobe, Christian Education: Angela Grobe has been working with the children at Westminster since 1994. Primary duties include overseeing Nursery Staffing, policies, and oversite, staffing our Sunday School program with Teachers and Shepherds, selecting curriculum and implementing programming for Vacation Bible School and special programs related to children. She and her husband Mark have been members of Westminster since 1992 and are the parents of three boys Matt, and twins Tom and Andy. Angela is in the process of gaining certification and has attended courses at Columbia Theological Seminary, and Montreat College.

Renee Wiesehuegel became Westminster's Office Manager / Bookkeeper in November of 1998. A graduate of The University of Tennessee in Finance, Renee enjoys the combination of both the bookkeeping responsibilities as well as the interaction with Westminster's family of faith! Her primary responsibilities include maintaining the church office as the primary "communication hub", keeping the church calendar, email correspondences, answering the phone, publications for the staff, session, and Ministry teams, and all the bookkeeping. She and her family joined Westminster in April of 1998.

Sandra Williams joined Westminster Presbyterian as a member in 2005 and administrative assistant in 2008.