Rev. Dr. Carol Manahan

Minister

Carol understands the church as a community where everyone’s voice is important, and all are welcome to ask hard questions, even questions about faith. No fierce dogma, but a compassionate concern to follow Jesus’s teachings. Carol enjoys bringing her diverse interests in the Bible and theology, spiritual traditions, ecology, and art into worship and education at the church. A long-time advocate for justice and peace, she joins members at marches and demonstrations, as well as supporting participation in ongoing community groups.

Carol has served as minister at CCMV since February 2020. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she served as the Associate Conference Minister for the Northern California/Nevada Conference, UCC, from 2007-2012. She has been a member of the congregation since 2014.

Carol earned a Masters of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, and an interdisciplinary PhD in Environmental Ethics, Bible, and Biogeography from the Graduate Theological Union. She taught Environmental Studies at California College of the Arts from 2007 to 2020, and has taught at other colleges since 1994. She earned a B.A. in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, and an M.A. in Art from San Francisco State University.

Carol and her wife Anni Jensen live in Richmond, CA in a small house with a habitat garden of native plants, flowers, and fruit trees, and the occasional vegetable. Labyrinth-like paths support the contemplative practices of planting, weeding, and composting. After fifteen years together, they celebrated their wedding in 2008. Several times, their garden has been on the Bringing Back the Natives garden tour, an annual East Bay event to encourage sustainable and ecological gardening. Their photogenic cat, Neytiri, often shows up in Anni’s garden photos.

Odin Mitaine

Music Director

Odin Mitaine is a native of France and holds double degrees in Piano and Violin. As a young violinist, he was accepted to the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, England. Later, he studied at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Lyon and earned a Masters in Violin, Chamber Music, and Musical Theory while earning the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in Piano. He has studied the violin with Gerard Poulet, Peter Csaba, and Roland Daugareil and taken masterclasses with Fine Arts Quartet.

Odin has performed throughout Europe. He worked as Associate Concertmaster at Opera de Rouen with notable conductors Oswald Salaberger, Laurence Equilbey, and David Stern. He has performed series with Opera de Paris and Radio France. 

Since arriving in California, he has played with different chamber groups including Echo Chamber Orchestra and Quantum piano quintet.

For the past several years, Odin has worked in music education teaching in elementary, middle and high schools around Marin. He also worked with Elm music program.

Reverend Jacquie Hoffman

Minister in Covenant and Minister to Interspiritual Inquiry Group, The Redwoods 

Jacquie Hoffman has been a long-time member of the Community Church, and serves as our Minister-in-Covenant with Mercy Housing, which develops, finances and operates affordable, service enriched housing for families, seniors and people with special needs.  

In addition, Jacquie has served for the last 6 years as the church's staff liaison to the Interspiritual Inquiry Group at The Redwoods community for seniors. The group attracts people of all and no faith traditions.  Formerly "Progressive Christianity," the group initiated a name change to ensure a more inclusive welcome to all, and after nearly a year of discernment, members elected to change the name to “Interspiritual Inquiry."  Jacquie facilitates an exploration of faith and spirituality and how faith intersects in our daily lives on Thursday afternoons each week. 

Jonathan Herrera Ramirez

Head A.V. Coordinator

Jonny is our Head A.V. Coordinator. He has a bachelor's degree in audio engineering from SAE Expression College. Besides controlling Cameras, Mics, Slideshow, Audio and Video each service. He is well versed in Audiovisual Technology and actually designed the church's hybrid system himself.

Jana Stuchlikova

Office Manager

Jana handles all rental inquiries and contracts for the church and produces its weekly worship bulletin, newsletters and social media updates. If you wish to book an event at the Community Church, Jana will facilitate your plans, schedule and contract as well as assist with all details to assure that your event goes smoothly.

Aaron Young

Facility Operations Manager

Since he was hired in 2005, Aaron Young has proved to be indispensable to the Community Church.  His skills go far beyond maintaining the building and grounds and keeping all systems—electrical, audio/visual, plumbing, etc.—functioning properly.  He is a fine carpenter and furniture builder who has remodeled spaces, built new pews, and created cabinets and tables that are functional and beautiful.   In 2006, Aaron took his skills to New Orleans on behalf of our church to help rebuild houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina.