Rev. John Goff 

The Rev. John Goff has spent most of his adult life as a caregiver, dating from his days as a young college graduate working with societal outcasts on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

"That was an eye-opener," John says.

John grew up in Seattle, went away to Pomona College intending to become a doctor. He changed course there and became a religion major.

A year as a VISTA volunteer in New York City convinced him to attend seminary. Medicine's loss was the ministry's gain. Upon graduating from San Francisco Theological Seminary, John came to Oregon.

"I felt called into some sort of helping profession," John says. "I found the ministry very challenging and very satisfying. I really threw myself into it."

He spent 24 years serving as a pastor in four Presbyterian churches, two in the mid-Willamette Valley and two in Portland. Then, happily married to Kathy, who works in the financial aid office at Portland State, and with a young daughter, John became a stay-at-home father.

When John's daughter, Sarah, was a teenager, John began attending services at Milwaukie Presbyterian. He responded enthusiastically to the progressive theology of the Rev. Woodley White's preaching.

"I came to Milwaukie as a pew-sitter, and found myself so challenged and spiritually nourished," John says. "It just drew me in."

At the invitation of the pastor and the Session, John assumed the role of pastoral visitation. He visits homebound members and ministers to those who are coping with illness, facing difficulties or unable to attend church services for whatever reason.

"Being with people and being spiritually supportive of them is one of the things I'm good at," John says.

There are many others. John is an accomplished musician. He often plays the flute at the early service, and frequently brings it with him on his pastoral visitations. He has composed church music and has conducted choirs.

He has taken on a leadership role in helping to guide the evolving early service.

He is a wily croquet player. And, you might see him during election campaigns as a hands-on participant in the democratic process.

John's role at MPC as pastoral visitor continued when the Rev. Gabrielle Chavez became interim pastor upon Woodley's retirement.

"I've been so impressed by the tremendous openness the Milwaukie congregation has," John says. "Not just in their willingness to have their thinking and faith challenged and stretched, but also by their openness to a variety of ways to worship. I really appreciate the open-minded attitude people here have, their respect for other people's preferences, and their willingness to bend."