Meet the LCC Staff

Stephen Hinerman:

Stephen Hinerman is the Interim Pastor of Lafayette Christian Church. He was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia where he graduated from Marshall University. He received his Ph.D. in Communication from Ohio State University and then was on the faculty of the University of Colorado-Boulder. After graduating from Pacific School of Religion, and being ordained at LCC in 1986, he has taught at a number of Bay Area colleges, and currently teaches Communication Studies at San Jose State University and Religious Studies at Las Positas College. He has served as the Wedding Minister at Little Brown Church in Sunol, and been on the staff of LCC since 2004. Stephen may be reached at stephenhinerman@hotmail.com

Sara Steenhouse

Sara Steenhouse serves as the Associate Pastor of Lafayette Christian Church.  A lifelong member of the Disciples of Christ, Sara was raised in Washington State and attended college at Texas Christian University.  She received a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Washington and moved to the Bay Area to attend seminary at Pacific School of Religion.  Sara attended LCC during seminary and served LCC for two years as the Minister-in-Training before being ordained by the church in 2008.  In addition to her ministry in Lafayette, Sara is also the co-pastor of insideOUT, an emerging faith community in Oakland.  She also serves as the Director of Outdoor Ministries for the Northern California Conference of the United Church of Christ.  To reach Sara, email her at sarasteenhouse@gmail.com.

Michael Patch, Choral Director

Michael Robert Patch is from Kansas City, where he attended UMKC Conservatory of Music. While at the Conservatory he completed a degree in music education with intensive study in conducting, composition and vocal performance. He has worked with Dr. Eph Ehly, Gustavo Halley, William Everett and Charles Bruffy. Michael has also had an extensive performance career, working with choirs of all shapes and sizes including the Grammy nominated Kansas City Chorale. Michael has sung in performances throughout the United States and Europe in such venues as St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest and Carnegie Hall in New York City. He became Director of Music at LCC in January of 2008. If you are interested in singing in the choir, Michael would love to talk to you!! Michael can be reached at: patch.michael@gmail.com

Diana Silva: Organist and Bookkeeper

Diana Silva is our organist and bookkeeper. She has been a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) all her life, growing up in the San Jose church and later attending Disciple churches in Kansas and VIrginia. Diana and her family joined Lafayette Christian Church in 1984, with Diana becoming the Treasurer two years later and by 1993 was taking care of all the bookkeeping for our church. In 1987 Diana became our organist with four years of previous experience in Alexandria, Virginia and since that time her gift for music has enriched our weekly worship. Diana is married and has two grown children who consider this church part of their family.