2026 Vestry Slate

Thank you for taking the time to read about our candidates for the Vestry Class of 2029. Since there are more candidates than vacancies, we will have a rank-order vote at the Annual Meeting (January 25 following the 10:30 AM Service) to determine which of these five candidates will be called to serve on the Vestry. Thank you for taking the time to read about these amazing people, thank you for your prayerful discernment, and thank you to Jean, Cathy, Chuck, Bright, Sandra, SaraJane, and Marsha for putting their names forward for consideration.

Jean Dillingham

My name is Jean Dillingham, and my wife Cherylnn and I began attending St. James during the pandemic after many years at All Saints Beverly Hills. During that time, I coordinated a small neighborhood food drive, “Thankful Thursdays”, dedicating the collections to the St. James food pantry, which became a meaningful introduction to the parish and its ministry. Through that experience, we had the opportunity to meet Father Jon and Mother Kate, tour the church, and—once in-person worship resumed—quickly felt at home. From the familiar beauty of the liturgy and the extraordinary choir to the diversity of the congregation, St. James has truly felt like a glimpse of heaven.

Since then, I have been grateful to serve in a variety of ways, including helping prepare and serve meals for our unhoused neighbors in need, and serving at the altar as lector, chalice bearer, and acolyte. As a cradle Episcopalian, I have a deep love for the Church and a strong commitment to serving others. I also bring a wealth of experience from operational and leadership roles at both small and large churches within the diocese, and I would be honored to share that experience in service to St. James.

 

Cathy Helm

My name is Cathy Helm. I’ve been a member of St. James’ Church since the late 1980s. I’m currently the coordinator for the St. James’ Food Pantry, which distributes groceries and ready-to-eat food to community members once a week. I’m also the board chair for St. James’ Manor, the low-income elderly housing project that Church members started several decades ago. I frequently serve as a verger or thurifer at the 10:30 service. I was the Senior Warden of the Vestry in 2019 and 2020. I was on the board of St. James’ School from 1994 to 2006, and board president from 2000 to 2004. One of the main reasons I love St. James’ is that it gives me access to beauty every week. I particularly love singing hymns. As a lawyer, I would bring administrative and legal skills to the Vestry if I were elected to serve again. I could also bring some knowledge of how the L.A. Diocese works, as I was recently appointed the Interim Chancellor to the Diocese. (The Chancellor is the Diocese’s and the Bishop’s lawyer.) In addition, I would contribute a connection with the School, which my twin daughters (now grown) attended and which I have great affection for. I’d be delighted to have the opportunity to be on the next Vestry.

 

Chuck Moffitt

Chuck Moffitt began his St. James faith journey 36 years ago with wife Gina, enrolling twins Emily and Julia in the school’s kindergarten. Twenty years of continual service later, he had served multiple terms on the school board and vestry, and been president of the school board and Senior Warden of St. James Church, each for several terms. Along the way, he was president of the school’s Parent Support Fellowship, Cub Scout Master, an usher for two decades, for thirty years still a lector, and now member of the Wednesday morning prayer group. Formerly a Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles, Chuck is certain there is no church in our city that exemplifies the virtues of diversity, inclusivity, and compassion as well as St. James. He is a fervent believer in the mission of “respecting the dignity of every human being” and would feel blessed to once again further the Lord’s Work on the vestry.  

 

Bright Onyenwe

I am from Akoli Village, Akpodim in Ezinihitte, LGA of Mbaise Imo State in Nigeria. I’ve been worshipping at St. James since 1999.

I came to the United States in 1977. I attended my College education at New York Institute of Technology, graduated with a BSc in Business Administration in 1982, and a Masters degree in Labor and Industrial Relations in 1984.

I then joined the United States Army on September 10, 1984. My military specialty was in the infantry where I held leadership positions for 20 years with deployments to Desert Storm/Desert Shield liberating Kuwait, the DMZ South/North Korea border, and Bosnia. I retired on October 30, 2004 at Fort Irwin California.

I then taught the Officer Reserve Training Corps Classes for LAUSD potential Recruits that want to enlist in the U.S. Army from 2005 to 2013 and then retired fully.

I have served in the African Christian Fellowship at St James as the Vice President for multiple years.

I currently serve in Ezinihitte Progressive Union of Southern California as the Vice President, an Igbo Cultural Organization in Los Angeles.

Am honored to be considered for the Vestry position at St James.

 

Sandra Spencer

I’m a cradle Episcopalian.  My home parish was St. James Lafayette Square in Baltimore, Maryland where I served on the vestry and lead other committees.  I have been a member of  St. James in the City since 2018.

I’m currently a greeter and usher for 8:00am service and have assisted in events whenever needed.

St. James gives me peace, a sense of community, connection , and most importantly support. It helps me grow my faith, listen, pray and embrace God’s love.

My professional career involved various leadership positions related to Information Systems for the federal government.

 

SaraJane Thies

I’ve had the privilege of meeting many of our members over the 50 years I’ve called St James’ home.  Amazingly the Thies family history is chronicled as part of St James’ The First  100 years History where you can still view photos online. St James’ initially formed me through Choirs, Sunday school, and vestry trainings. And guided me as a school and eagle scout parent, which led me to Education for Ministry trainings.  At times I’ve been a leader in worship as a choir member, lay eucharistic minister as well as active in community service with the former Infant Care Center, Great Foods, Great Music, and the St James Manor of which I am currently a board member.

Elected initially to the vestry as the 1st 18-year-old member, it was my greatest privilege to be present at the groundbreaking of the current St James School. I served a 2nd vestry term in various roles as junior warden, and committee member of stewardship, parish and school connections, discernment, and rectors search. Today I will bring my experiences of a full career in Information Technology as Project Manager across multiple industries (Financial, Manufacturing, Energy, Petroleum, Biopharmaceutical, and Public Health Services) to my greatest passions of the many  St James’ ministries in the community, Great Music and Liturgy.

 

Marsha Vargas

Marsha Vargas was born and raised in Belize and is a life-long Anglican/ Episcopalian. I joined St. James four decades ago along with my son Dominique.  Currently, I am a member of the Altar Guild and the Soup Kitchen teams, also a Lay Eucharist Minister. Twice monthly, I prepare and distribute the Intercessory Prayer List to a group of parishioners who pray for these persons.   I have been elected to serve on the vestry, and was asked to be Junior Warden under The Rt. Rev. Dr. Kirk Smith and senior warden under The Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam.  She has also served on the School Board as liaison to the vestry. In April 2023 I coordinated the Holy Land Pilgrimage along with members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Santa Monica.  St. James is my nourishing spiritual home. The Liturgy and Music are exceptional and continue to draw me back weekly.   Having a finance degree and over forty years in the accounting field, I am confident that these gifts will be an asset to St. James Episcopal Church along with my strong sense of loyalty, and listening skills for this diverse community.