Endorsements

Rev. Canon Cindy Voorhees

#4 Most Influential Person of 2015

High Honor — Rev. Canon Cindy Voorhees was distinguished by the Los Angeles Times | Daily Pilot as #4 on the 2015 DP 103 Most Influential People of Newport-Mesa, the publication's annual year-end recognition of the community's most influential members.

The acknowledgement cited Rev. Voorhees' strength and leadership for successfully keeping her flock together despite the congregation being locked out of their Via Lido church by Los Angeles Diocese Bishop Jon Bruno.

Rev. Steve Huber

All Saints,

Beverly Hills

It has been my close observation during the eighteen months of the St. James the Great controversy that Rev. Cindy Voorhees has demonstrated an amazing strength under fire and a clear ability to remain professional and respectful while being in disagreement with our current leadership. She has been unflappable, a tireless advocate for what she believes to be just, and a compassionate pastoral listener to people on very different sides of this controversy. Given the chance, I believe she could be a healer and an agent of empowerment and transformation in this diocese.

She knows our diocese and the larger Church well. Over the years she has held the chairperson’s position of almost every committee and council in this diocese, and she has a depth of business experience including in the male-dominated construction industry. If elected, she would hit the ground running and not be afraid to make the difficult decisions necessary to restore confidence and fresh energy to our shared ministry. She knows what planting a congregation is all about, an evangelistic task we desperately need to do more of in this diocese. Cindy has a passion for mission, not just here at home but globally.

Rev. Dr. Gywnne Guibord

Rev. Cindy is a true visionary and effective change maker who is always led by the Holy Spirit. Her outstanding business acumen is apparent in the successful formation of her own very diverse companies including BuildingAFRICA, Purple Industries, Voorhees Design and others. Her administrative skill set is impressive and effective. She has a noteworthy record of handling the many facets of dealing with huge budgets and fiscal responsibilities while at the same time fostering an environment where all with whom she works are encouraged to resource their best selves in achieving the common goals. Her understanding of the complexities of the diocese is vast, having served on a number of commissions including her election to the Corporation of the Diocese.

In all of Cindy’s dealings she is steadfastly Christ centered, working through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Her recent experiences at St. James the Great in Newport Beach, under intense focus and pressure, have revealed her to consistently be Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, and ever open to resolution that restores all parties to their wholeness. Responding from the well of compassion at the heart of her faith, she has never lost her genuine concern for the well-being of all within her congregation and beyond as she consistently urges correction instead of criticism.

I have known Rev. Cindy for three years and can testify to her leadership, vision, courage and dedication to service. She is smart and she is strong, but she also has a deep well of compassion. Her grace and balance under adverse circumstances has won here the love of her congregation and the respect of the wider Newport Beach community.

Honorable Diane Dixon

Mayor of Newport Beach

Dr. Lo Sprague

St. John's Cathedral,

Los Angeles

Cindy Voorhees has been a quiet and powerful force for good in my life. She is a living example to me of calm in the midst of storm. Time and again I have found her steadfastly resistant to drama and quietly rooted in doing the work of the Holy Spirit.

I stood with her when she found herself called to Africa to be a courageous presence of goodness in a frightening time of need and crisis. It was a strange call and yet, she answered faithfully and effectively, did the work building strategic affiliations and procedures and structures that will long outlast her individual participation, and then stepped back. No grandstanding. No need to control. She simply did the work and moved on.

I can think of no one right now who has greater practical understanding of the complex needs of our diocese than Rev. Voorhees. She brings the “no drama,” quiet and powerful vision and presence of the Holy Spirit we need.

Jihad Turk

President

Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School at CST

I consider the Rev. Canon Cindy Evans Voorhees not only a personal friend, but a courageous civic and religious leader and a strong voice for peace and understanding.

As the president of the nation's first Muslim seminary, Bayan Claremont located on the Campus of Claremont School of Theology, I am honored to endorse Rev. Canon Voorhees in her bid for serving as Bishop. She has demonstrated a commitment to interfaith relations and has recently organized an important series of talks by visiting speakers from the Muslim community here in Southern California dealing with pressing issues facing our local communities and the nation as a whole.

Having engaged with her congregation, I can testify to the welcoming Christian spirit that she has fostered there.

The Rev. Canon's election to Bishop would be a positive step in strengthening interfaith relations in Orange County and beyond.

Rev. Michael Cooper

St. Nicholas of Myra,

Encino

Rev. Cindy Voorhees has vision, plain and simple! She has been a member of the Diocesan Standing Committee, The Corporation of the Diocese and been a delegate to General Convention. Not only does Cindy know what needs to be done to have our diocese be a leader in the national church, she knows how to get it accomplished.

During the last year she has provided pastoral care to her parishioners, during what most people would say have been some very trying times, and she has done it prayerfully and with compassion and grace.

When I think of the qualities that a bishop must possess - teacher, sanctifier, chief pastor, someone who has a personal relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ, someone who actually takes the time to pray and discern where it is God is directing them - Cindy fulfills all of these.

In closing, I would like to say that the beauty of the Anglican Church is that there is a place for everyone. Cindy really believes this and lives it every day in her ministry - her tent really is big enough for everyone to have a place.

Ann F. Morris

Spiritual Director

St. Michael & All Angels,

Corona del Mar

I have known and worked with Rev. Cindy Voorhees for over twenty years as her spiritual director. I know her to be a most trustworthy woman; not only as a priest, but as a business person: Voorhees Design, Building Africa, and Purple Industries. She is a leader, organizer, and empowerer. An example is the pastoral courage of heading, holding, and shepherding St. James the Great in Newport Beach through a trying and difficult time.

She is self-aware and inclusive of all people, which makes her ideal as Bishop of the diverse L.A. Diocese. As a leader she sees the bigger picture in all situations and empowers people to use their own gifts. She is pastoral and wise, innovative in worship, organized in business, and experienced nationally and internationally. She is extremely capable. Her marriage and personal life are solid and supportive.

I respect her, trust her, and, above all, like her. She is a people person, unassailably honest, and transparent. I recommend her highly and would be proud to have her as my Bishop.

Lynn Horton

Parishioner

St. Wilfrid of York, Huntington Beach