Title: Longtime Disciples Africa executive resigns
Date: August 27, 2001
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
01a-47
INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- After nearly 20 years of key leadership of ministry to and with African Christians the Rev. Daniel C. Hoffman has resigned, effective Aug. 24, as Africa Executive of the Common Global Ministries Board (CGMB), a common witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ (UCC).
In his letter of resignation to the Rev. Patricia Tucker Spier, president of the Disciples Division of Overseas Ministries (DOM), Hoffman said, "As you know, I have been contemplating for some time several life-related moves, including new denominational affiliation with the Episcopal Church and search for new work." Hoffman, 58, said he wants to initiate those changes while he is in good health and full of enthusiasm.
Hoffman was ordained a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in June 1974. His lengthy international ministry assignments date to 1970, when he served as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Division of Overseas Ministries /United Church Board for World Ministries representative to the Evangelical Congregational Church of Brazil. He taught Christian Education and Biblical studies at the Brazilian denomination's seminary, developed Christian education materials for local congregations and conducted training seminars in southern Brazil.
From 1976 to 1979, Hoffman served as DOM representative to the Reformed Church of France. Headquartered at Pau, France, he worked with Portuguese immigrants, organized continuing education for clergy and lay persons and worked with private and government agencies on the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees.
In 1981 he was DOM representative to the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation in Zambia, Africa. He researched Zambian theological education and taught special Mindolo seminars.
In 1982 Hoffman was named executive secretary, Department of Africa, Division of Overseas Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He headed the Disciples/UCC Joint Ministry in Africa starting in 1992, and when the overseas ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ came together under a common board in 1996, Hoffman became Africa Executive for Global Ministries. For nearly 20 years, he was responsible for all Disciples and UCC links with African churches and ecumenical organizations. He supervised as many as 40 overseas mission personnel serving in Africa.
From 1982-88, Hoffman chaired the Africa Committee of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and from 1983 until his resignation, he was a delegate to Africa-related roundtables sponsored by the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
"I was privileged to accompany the years of intense anti- apartheid struggle in the eighties and I was proud of the contribution of the UCC and Disciples to a new, democratic non-racial South Africa," Hoffman said. "I know that the Disciples and UCC are deeply concerned about new challenges in Africa, including cancellation of the international debt, HIV/AIDS, conflict resolution, identification of new partners sharing Global Ministries core values and nurture of significant relations with African Christians that, in some cases, span more than a century," he said.
"We are grateful for Daniel's many years of faithful service, first as Africa executive for the Division of Overseas Ministries, then for the Joint Ministries, and finally for the Common Global Ministries Board when that was formed," said Spier in a letter to the Common Global Ministries directors and staff. "We wish to express our deep appreciation for these ministries, and for the untiring way in which Daniel always engaged his work."
A search process will be undertaken according to standing rules of the Common Global Ministries Board. Meanwhile, interim and part time arrangements are being made for the work of the Africa office. The Revs. Howard and Darlene Goodrich, retired pastors and former Africa missionaries, will be available to work with Global Ministries during the transition process. Bridget Robinson, program associate, and Pat Sanborn, administrative assistant, will carry on with day-to-day operations.
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