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Introducing John and Colette
Hoff—
Important Resources for Community Life
John Lawrence Hoff, Th.D., and Mary Colette
Hoff, M.Ed., have been chosen by the American Association for the
Furtherance of Community and by the inter-faith congregation of
Convocation: A Church and Ministry to be consultants and trainers within
the Goodenough Community System. They are employed by Convocation and
volunteer their services to the work of The American Association for the
Furtherance of Community, parent organization to the Goodenough
Community. John and Colette have proven themselves to embody many of the
ideals of our organizations and the values we have chosen over years. As
a community, we have been impressed by their demonstration of
leadership, their values and their vision of how the world might change
as people work together. We have chosen them for these roles because
they have proven themselves as friends. In addition, they have inspired
us to see the importance of our community being a demonstration model
of how communities can support people in these unpredictable times.
John Lawrence Hoff, ThD
 John
is
a professional
educator, counselor, and organizational consultant. John is also a
mystic whose own life and faith teach compassion and the value of
relationship. He is a social activist for whom creating community as an
environment for growing “good people” has been his lifeswork. John
received his doctorate in theology and pastoral care from the Pacific
School of Religion. He was ordained in the United Church of Christ
(1961) and trained by the National Training Laboratories (NTL
Institute). His livelihood has been earned through teaching, training,
and the pastoral care of individuals and organizations. Since 1981, John
has been a leader in the Goodenough Community System. John’s lifeswork
is being honored on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of
his founding the Human Relations Laboratory in 1970.
Mary Colette Hoff, MEd
Prior
to earning her Master’s degree from the University of Puget Sound and
the Christian Counseling Service, Colette spent 10 years providing
nutritional counseling and motivational workshops for the Northwest
Lipid Research Clinic. Colette has extensive experience in adult and
family education and in the use of community as a method for human
growth and development. She has a recognized vocation for working with
women and women’s spirituality and was ordained as a pastor by
Convocation: A Church and Ministry. Colette is a coach to many and a
trustworthy guide for relationships. She is also a developer of the
Sahale Learning Center and the Sahale EcoVillage.
Leadership from Relationship
John’s and Colette's relationship is a
pastoral one, holding within it the lives of all who choose to be
involved in the programs and services. Together, they mirror the
tensions and issues alive in community and in society, And, from their
relationship comes an unusually broad and deep understanding of current
events and the "watchcare" that is needed by individuals and
relationships. Their relationship might be described as synergistic,
offering more as a healing and guiding entity than either of the two
partners could offer alone.
We are fortunate to have two leaders who
work in relationship and provide that relationship as a force within our
community. Together John and Colette have many years of practical
experience in the art of weaving education into growth work, relational
training, and organizational learning. They teach from their own
collaboration the immense value of learning to live, love, and serve
together.
Their creation of such
initiatives as the Conscious Couples
Network and the Family Enrichment
Network has brought help to many couples and families. The heart of
their work is “Friendship Training” which has proven to revitalize
marriages, families, and living groups. They have demonstrated so much
wisdom through their individual lives and their relationship that many
of us, who are members and friends of this community, have spent the
past few years testing, refining, and adopting the greater portion of
what they have taught. It is their example that has won our
hearts and it is through our demonstration of a compassionate community
that we intend to join with like-minded others in the humble effort to
improve society. |
John L. Hoff, ThD
Mary Colette
Hoff, MED |
