Leadership & Staff
Michael Streib
Pastor
A native of southwestern Germany, Michael Streib earned his equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in Protestant Theology at Heidelberg University in 2019. He moved to the United States in 2019 and earned a Master of Divinity at Yale Divinity School and a Diploma in Congregational Ministry at the Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School in 2022. Michael’s ministry has focused on LGBTQ+ outreach and pastoral care, social justice work, as well as traditional ministry. Michael is not only passionate about inclusive, caring, and spiritually rich ministry, but he is also a proud uncle of two little nieces and in a loving relationship with his partner JJ.
Valerie A. Higgs
Director of Music
Valerie A. Higgs has served as Music Director at Bethesda United Church of Christ since 2022. She is an award-nominated music director, pianist, and educator whose career spans church music, musical theater, and music education. Valerie began her ministry as a church musician at age 15 at St. John's United Methodist Church in Berlin, New Jersey, and has since served congregations throughout South Jersey, Chicago, and the Washington, DC area. Her previous ministry roles include Haddonfield United Methodist Church, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, First Georgetown Baptist Church, and as Music Director at the Church in Bethesda from 2013–2015. In addition to her church ministry, Valerie has accompanied vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs, and has performed with the Tango Mercurio Ensemble, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, and the DC Tango Orchestra.
