Commentary: The ‘Vicar of Starbucks’ is continuing her ministry

Besides Sunday services, there is a theological responsibility, both inside and outside of the church family, to provide access to support services, mission and outreach to individuals who may need counsel, pastoral care and ministering other days of the week.

The challenge of providing a level of support without the benefit of multiuse church office space has been partially solved for those associated with St. James the Great Episcopal Church in Newport Beach, whose doors have been shut as the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles looks to sell the property.

All it took was a little innovation.

Finding places to meet wasn’t such a huge problem for the Rev. Cindy Voorhees, since she is the “Vicar of Starbucks,” a moniker that resulted from her holding occasional informal meetings at the coffee shop on Lido. Starbucks gift cards have even appeared in the offering plate.

The Starbucks has now become the default office location for church member communication and community outreach.

The baristas put “Rev” on her drink cup and sometimes have her order ready before she gets in the door.

“Part of being present in the community is wearing a collar and showing others that there’s a priest in the room,” Voorhees said. “It’s part of being visible and accessible outside the church walls. I’ve ministered to numerous people other than parishioners inside and outside Starbucks, including the homeless, the bereaved and the unemployed.”

When a need for privacy beyond what a coffee shop has to offer — for example, for pre-marital counseling or choir practice — Rev. Voorhees has opened up her home.

And when a request was made to perform a memorial service on a Saturday in the park as an alternative to the chapel, Rev. Voorhees complied. The daughter of the deceased explained that her mother loved Lido, and Voorhees decided it was the right thing to do.

SUSAN HOFFMAN is a freelance photographer.