Bradley Hills is blessed with an active and talented staff that supports the many programs and activities of our church. Members of the staff function with a strong emphasis on teamwork, each seeing their role as empowering the lay members of the congregation. They support ministry while also calling forth and encouraging the gifts of individual members in planning and implementing programs.
Rev. Dr. David E. Gray
Senior Pastor/Head of Staff
david@bradleyhillschurch.org
With a deep faith in God’s grace, in the unconditional love of Christ and in the Holy Spirit’s call for us to trust God and live out our faith in the world, David has joyfully pastored our church since 2009.
He grew up active in the Presbyterian Church in Dayton, OH and feels the spirit alive at Bradley Hills.
David comes to ministry out of a love for teaching and preaching. He enjoys walking life’s journey with people, particularly during times of challenge. He continues to be involved in areas of counseling and support at colleges and hospitals and finds it a privilege to care for individuals and their families spiritually, sharing joys and sorrows, and to help people grow in faith and in relationship with God.
David’s calling and overarching joy lies in preaching and teaching scripture, whether from the pulpit, in small groups, through writings and media ministries or in adult education classes. He loves worship, and is committed to fostering discipleship in the body of Christ.
With a long time interest in spiritual practice, organizational structure and personnel development, David previously served several churches and on campuses in the Washington, D.C., area, enjoying youth ministry in particular. Before that he worked in business and law and continues to serve on for-profit and non-profit boards. David has served on the Presbytery’s young adult, youth worker, campus ministry, stewardship, personnel and permanent judicial committees. He is a member of the Reformed Institute of Metropolitan Washington’s Company of Teachers. He has loved seeing Bradley Hills grow in membership, financial strength, diversity, staff, impact and spirit, and is looking forward to where God is calling us next.
David is a former scholar, program director and senior fellow at the New America Foundation think tank. His articles have appeared in a variety of religious and secular publications and as assignments in courses. David’s books include Practicing Balance: How Congregations Can Promote Harmony in Work and Life; The Five Letters Every Christian Should Write; Christian Followship: Discipleship and the Gospel of John for the Post-Pandemic World; Blessed Benedictions: Sending Them Home with a Good Word; Faith in Service; 1015; and Spiritual Calcium. He has enjoyed the privilege of speaking and preaching in a variety of contexts nationally.
David is a former Acting Assistant Secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), where he managed a 54-person team and the DOL offices of regulatory policy, programmatic policy, compliance assistance/technology, and economic analysis/research. He staffed, and was principal in, several White House working groups, and represented the U.S. abroad in negotiations in Mexico and in Chile. He has served as a counsel to the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Government Management and Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and as a legislative aid to several members of Congress. He has been a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, was a founding board member of the Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, and is a college fellow at Yale. David received a bachelor’s degree in history from Yale University, a master’s in public administration from Harvard, with a focus on non-profit management, a juris doctor from Northwestern University School of Law, and both a master of divinity with honors and a doctor of ministry in church leadership from Wesley Theological Seminary.
When not engaged in church or child/family-related activities, David enjoys music, movies, dogs, dark chocolate, coffee, dancing and sports (playing until recently on the Seven Locks tennis team). David’s wife, Bridget, founded Wiggle Room, a consignment shop in Bethesda, and with their four school aged children and dog, the Grays are proud to be part of the BHPC family.
“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” from Colossians 3
David writes:
I affirm with Paul that nothing separates us from the love of God, that we are to bear one another and that we can do all things through Christ. I love to read, to hear and share stories, to explore nature, and to find quiet moments to pray. I am Christ-centered, but respect and welcome all people. I believe life is a gift from God to be cherished, that we are part of God’s sacred story which we read of in the Bible, that we are called to remember our baptism, to receive God’s grace and to share the love of Christ I would love to have the chance to connect with you. Send me an email. I’d look forward to sharing the Good News of the Gospel, and of what God is doing at Bradley Hills.
Rev. Denise Diaab
Associate Pastor
Denise Diaab comes from Southern California. She spent her formative years in Los Angeles but has called Long Beach home for the past 40 years. After receiving a BA in Economics from Cal State University Fullerton, Denise began her public utility career at Southern California Edison Company (SCE) as an Economic Analyst. During her time at SCE Denise held positions in Investor Relations, Regulatory Cost, Regulatory Case Management, and Customer Service Benchmarking. Following retirement from SCE as a Project Manager, Denise built upon her life-long commitment to the Christian faith as demonstrated by her numerous acts of service and attended San Francisco Theological Seminary where she received a Master of Divinity in 2019 and served as a Teaching Assistant in Hebrew. Denise has served as a Transitional Associate Pastor at Grace First Presbyterian Church in Long Beach and as part-time pastoral staff at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. She was ordained by Los Ranchos Presbytery in June 2021. Denise loves spending quality time with her four children and five (soon to be six) grandchildren. She also enjoys writing, reading, hiking, traveling, and gardening.
Matthew Robertson
Director of Music
matthew@bradleyhillschurch.org
A Washington, DC native, Matthew Robertson oversees the music program at Bradley Hills, conducting many of the church’s ensembles and overseeing the music staff. Additionally, Robertson plays the organ for services and leads Bradley Hills Presents concert series. Praised for his “sensitive and nuanced” conducting, Robertson also serves as Artistic Director of the all-star professional choir, The Thirteen, and is a faculty member of Oberlin Conservatory’s Baroque Performance Institute.
Robertson’s 2018-2019 with The Thirteen sees fifteen performances, repertoire spanning more than half of a millennium, collaborations with REBEL Baroque Orchestra and organist Jeremy Filsell, and numerous world and regional premieres. Robertson will lead residencies at Hood College, St. John’s College, McDaniel College and more. Highlights of his 2018-2019 season include performances of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Duruflé’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Figure Humaine, David Lang’s the little match girl passion, and much of J.S. Bach’s oeuvre. Mr. Robertson will serve as a guest clinician throughout the East Coast and collaborate with many of the finest musicians of his generation, including members of the Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Seraphic Fire, Apollo’s Fire, Trinity Wall Street, Opera Philadelphia, Washington National Opera and more. During the 2017-2018 season, Robertson led performances of masterworks including Handel’s Messiah and Brahms’ Requiem, led residencies at Yale University, Virginia Wesleyan University and more, served as a presenter at ACDA’s Voices United festival, and led workshops throughout the East Coast. Robertson’s discography includes five albums, all with The Thirteen: Voice Eternal (2016), Radiant Dark (2014), Snow on Snow (2015), …to St. Cecilia (2013), and Christmas with The Thirteen (2013. From 2010-2012 Robertson served as Assistant Conductor for the Westminster Symphonic Choir, conducting the choir in performance and assisting in preparation for concerts with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, for such conductors as Yannick Nezet-Seguin, Peter Schreier, Alan Gilbert and Jacques Lacombe. Mr. Robertson was the Robert P. Fountain Scholar at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, earning a degree in Organ Performance. While at the Oberlin Conservatory he conducted the Oberlin College Choir, College Singers, Musical Union, Conservatory Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. Robertson received his M.Mus. in conducting from Westminster Choir College where he studied with Andrew Megill and Joe Miller. He has also worked with such luminary conductors as Norman Scribner, Stan Engebretson, Robert Spano, Joseph Flummerfelt, Gary Graden and JoAnn Falletta. A Washington, DC native, Robertson serves as Director of Music at Bradley Hills Church, in Bethesda, MD, and serves as a board member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association. Additionally active as an organist, Mr. Robertson has performed throughout the United States and in Western Europe.
Matt Nabinger
Director of Christian Education
matt@bradleyhillschurch.org
As Director of Christian Education at Bradley Hills, Matt seeks to embody the welcoming love of Christ to children of all ages. A recent graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Matt studied Christian Education and Formation. His coursework included extensive study on topics such as Christian mysticism, spiritual formation, and practical theology. Matt is an experienced Godly Play teacher, and he loves to tell the stories of the Christian faith to children and youth with passion and sincerity. He joyfully serves the children, youth, and families of BHPC, and helps with education for all ages.
Before seminary, Matt worked for three years as an elementary school music teacher in both central Virginia and Philadelphia. This background provides him with a keen alertness to the educational needs of children and youth. Matt seeks to meet both educational and spiritual needs in his role at Bradley Hills by helping children and youth develop an awareness of God’s loving presence in their everyday lives.
A true Marylander at heart, Matt’s favorite food is softshell crab. Some of his favorite hobbies are running, journaling, exploring new cities, and hearing live music. He has sung baritone with both the Roanoke Symphony Chorus as well as the Philadelphia Mendelssohn Club, and he continues to lend his voice to community and professional choirs whenever he can.
Matt is certified to receive a pastoral call, preaches and helps lead worship services.
Amy de Court
Manager of Financial Services
amy@bradleyhillschurch.org
Amy is responsible for the daily financial functions and long-term financial planning of the church. Working closely with the staff, our session, and other leaders of the church, she is responsible for matching the short- and long-range financial goals to available resources. She joined the BHPC staff as the manager of financial services in 1996.
Since Amy’s parents were charter members of BHPC, she grew up involved in the life of Bradley Hills. After being baptized and raised here, Amy joined the church in 1972 and was married here.
Prior to joining the staff Amy earned her bachelor‘s degree in mathematics from Salem College in North Carolina and her bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Maryland, University College. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Maryland with experience in financial consulting, specifically in accounting software development and implementation.
Farid Beltran
Manager of Facilities
farid@bradleyhillschurch.org
Farid has been a member of the BHPC staff since 1993 and the facilities manager since 2007. Originally from El Salvador, Farid graduated from The Institute Emiliani of El Salvador in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in electronics. He is a certified Church Facilities Manager and active member of the national association (NACFM).
In 2012, he attained the certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) as a Professional LEED Green Associate.
Sextons
Our staff who helps care for and help activities in our facility.
Juan Mendez
Leo Bruno
Jorge Mirada
Juan Mendez, Jr
Linda Reynolds
Office Manager
linda@bradleyhillschurch.org
Linda has been our office manager since 2010 and is very happy to be working at BHPC, appreciating especially the warmth of staff and members.
She is responsible for the administrative functions of the BHPC office and manages the activities of the volunteers who assist in this area. She maintains the church membership records and coordinates other session requirements with the clerk of session. She maintains the web-based church calendar and oversees building use in cooperation with the manager of facilities. She also oversees the administration of the columbarium.
Linda lives in College Park with her husband, Rick, and enjoys volunteering at her Episcopal church, travelling, and watching BBC television programs.
Rev. Marty Albershardt
Parish Associate
Marty has been serving as a pastoral associate since 2011 and has been active as a member at BHPC since joining in 1995. As pastoral associate she is a minister who volunteers to support a local congregation by helping with worship, pastoral care, and small groups.
Marty grew up active in a Presbyterian church in Moorestown, NJ, where her father was the senior pastor. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Ohio Wesleyan University, a master of fine arts in creative writing from The American University, and a master of divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary. Prior to seminary she published poetry, did editing, and worked for a literary agent in Washington, DC. She was a member of Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kensington, MD, for 16 years. She was hired there as youth minister and was active as youth fellowship leader and teacher.
She joined BHPC with her husband Bill and three daughters, who are now young adults. Marty has been an elder, chair of Worship and Arts, helped start the 8:30 service, has taught children of all ages, and has also led adult education classes at BHPC. Her ordination for ministry took place here in December 2009, and she has served as a pastoral intern, a hospital chaplain resident, and pastor in the area. Marty is currently a member-at-large of National Capital Presbytery (NCP), enjoys supply preaching at many churches, and serves on the NCP Clergy Misconduct Response Team, training clergy in Healthy Boundaries and Misconduct Prevention. She is also a spiritual director, having completed studies at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, and now works one to one with spiritual directees and leads retreats. She jogs, does Tai Chi, meditation, and enjoys movies, music, and traveling.
Rev. Wally Harman
Parish Associate
2014 marked Wally’s 40th year of ordained ministry. During that time he has served in three presbyterys. In National Capital Presbytery Wally has been an organizing pastor, stated supply pastor and an interim pastor. He specialized in helping congregations facing significant changes. He is also a trained liaison to Congregational Nominating Committees having assisted seven congregations in the last decade. He has served on several Presbytery committees including the Committee on Ministry. In retirement he also plays golf, works with a physical trainer, and takes pleasure in occasional trips with his wife Lynda.
Rev. Jong Mi Lee
Parish Associate
The Rev. Jong Mi Lee, PhD is currently teaching and developing programs at a seminary in Annandale, Virginia as the director of Asian American Women Studies and has been involved in the development of women’s spirituality and leadership for National Korean Presbyterian Women, PCUSA. Majoring in Practical Theology, spiritual formation, and Christian education attending Claremont School of Theology (PhD), Union Presbyterian Seminary (MDiv), Princeton Theological Seminary (MA), her major aspiration is the revitalization of broader Asian church communities toward active participation in mainstream America by newly found Asian women leaders.
Gail Brown
Coordinator for Spiritual Life
As our Coordinator for Spiritual Life, Gail Brown leads many valuable activities that help strengthen the faith of the members of Bradley Hills. Gail is available throughout the week for Individual Spiritual Counseling.
Gail also helps to coordinate the annual Women’s Retreat, assists with Adult Education, and meets one-on-one with members of the congregation to explore and recognize how God is present in their lives.
Donald S. Sutherland
Director of Music Emeritus
Donald Sinclair Sutherland was the director of music at BHPC from 1971 to 2007, when he was appointed the director emeritus of music ministries. As choirmaster and organist at Bradley Hills, Donald made significant spiritual contributions to Bradley Hills and shaped the role of music as part of the ministry of this congregation. He oversaw the installation and dedication of the Holtkamp memorial organ. He established community concerts such as the Bethesda Cares concerts to benefit charity, an annual Christmas program at Bradley Hills that included choirs from other local churches, and he regularly joined our Chancel Choir with the choir of the Church of the Redeemer in Washington, DC.
Donald now serves as coordinator of the organ program at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. At BHPC, he currently supports our music program through advising the worship team, playing worship services on occasion, and performing concerts in our sanctuary. With his wife, world-renowned soprano Phyllis Bryn-Julson, Donald brought joy, sparkle, and the glory of sacred music to Bradley Hills. We are grateful to both of them for their contributions to the church and greater community.
Liz Sobrino
Director BHPC Nursery School
lsobrino@bhpcns.org
Liz is originally from Toronto, Canada. She has lived in New York, Barbados, Connecticut, Washington DC, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, before moving to Carderock Springs, Bethesda in 1999. Liz and her husband, Ray, as empty-nesters currently reside in Chevy Chase DC. Liz and Ray, have three daughters–Jessie, Alex and Trisha who have all grown and flown. Their daughters live and work in Bethesda, Brooklyn Heights, and Philadelphia.
Liz became the nursery school’s director in 2013. She earned a BA in Elementary Education, from Catholic University. Her life experiences include, raising 3 daughters in Bethesda, President of the Carderock Springs PTA and other PTA roles, volunteering at many, many swim meets, soccer games, volleyball matches, Girl Scout meetings, school fundraiser and more. Her paid work experiences include, the American Cafe, the American Society for Training and Development, RSA & Associates, St. Frances Creche Preschool, and prior to BHPCNS she was the Executive Director for the Alliance for Workplace Excellence. All these educational, volunteering, and professional experiences have provided Liz with the tools, skills, and experience needed for her role as the nursery’s school’s Director.
Liz enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, flower arranging, and walking endless miles with friends or a good audio book. She and Ray love to entertain family and friends. Her chocolate chip cookies and caramel bars are a hit at many a party!
Director, Friends Club Ministry, Ken Silverstein
Worship Technology Team – Max, Bruce, Min, Bruce, and Jim
Marie Marquis, Director of Children’s Choir
Professional Section Leader Singers
Pastoral Counselors, Tory, Caroline and Samantha