rector
The Rev. Claire Brown
Claire was called as rector to St. Paul’s in Athens in 2021, and previously served at St. Paul’s Chattanooga and St. Augustine’s Nashville. She is a graduate of Lee University, Vanderbilt Divinity School, the School of Theology at Sewanee, and has been trained as a retreat leader and spiritual director through the Shalem Institute and Still Harbor. Claire is married to Austin Sauerbrei, and they have two children.
parish Administrator
Diva Creps
Diva was born and raised in Brazil and moved to the US in 1986. She has served as the Parish Secretary at St. Paul’s since 2006. She is the smile that greets guests when they come in, helps ensure smooth operations of our church office and supports our priest and staff members. She loves people and is humbled and grateful to be on staff at St. Paul’s!
children’s minister
Liv Cook
Liv joined St. Paul’s while attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where she studied special education with a minor in religion/philosophy. She works as an organizer for Statewide Organizing for Community Empowerment. In the fall of 2020 she joined the St. Paul’s staff, where she oversees children’s formation and acolytes.
Bailey White
Youth Minister
Bailey is a native East Tennessean and grew up in the Episcopal church. He has a Bachelors degree in Philosophy and Religion and has served in youth ministry in various roles large and small. He also loves to sing in choirs and is a dog dad to a very energetic dog named Leo. You can often find him at the dog park or walking his dog around town or on a trail.
Choir Director
Blake Chastain
Blake is originally from Benton, Tennessee, where he grew up in a Southern Baptist family. In 2017, he moved to Athens for education. Blake has been attending St. Paul’s since his freshman year of college at Tennessee Wesleyan University. He is a graduate of the Music Education program at Wesleyan, and hopes to continue to grow and explore his faith while working at St. Paul’s.
Accompanist
Ssuhui Amy Wu
Ssuhui Amy Wu was born in Taiwan. She got her masters degree in piano performance studying under Ning An at Lee University. Now she serves as a staff piano accompanist at Lee University and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Amy loves cooking, hiking, and listening to music. Amy is married to Edward Goodman, and they are blessed with a wonderful son, Joseph Emmanuel Goodman.
Sexton
Bryan Andrew
Bryan Andrew is originally from Georgia and has been a Tennessee resident since 1995. He served in the US Army as a Satellite Communications Operator/Maintainer and later as a Military Intelligence Systems Integrator/Operator. He now proudly serves as the Sexton of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
Interim Food Pantry Coordinator
Heidi King
Heidi King is originally from Athens, TN, but attended Maryville College where she graduated in 2003 with a degree in Theatre Studies with a minor in Religion. Heidi and her partner spent a year up north (before realizing they were southerners at heart). They relocated to her husband's hometown in northwest Alabama after they married in 2004 and where they lived until 2015. They have two hilarious children together, Ander (8) and Silas (6). Heidi is excited to get a promotion from her position of 8 years as 'Stay At Home Mom' and rejoin the working world as the Interim Food Pantry Coordinator for Table Graces.
Seminarian
McKenzi Roberson
McKenzi is a seminary student at the University of the South School of Theology, completing their field placement in our parish. They assist in the liturgy, formation, preaching, community life and youth ministries at St. Paul’s.
