Harry Haines, retired church relief director, dies at 89
By Elliott Wright*
April 5, 2007 | NEW YORK (UMNS)
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The Rev. J. Harry Haines
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The Rev. J. Harry Haines, director of the United Methodist Committee on
Relief from 1966 to 1983, died March 29 at the age of 89.
He suffered a heart attack in Eugene, Ore., where he and his wife, Loma, lived in retirement.
"Harry Haines was a saint, a model of Christian commitment, hard
work, and inspiration," said the Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive of
the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, the parent organization
of UMCOR, in New York. "For years he was Mr. United Methodist Relief,
rallying the church to aid people affected by natural disasters, wars
and poverty."
Haines, a native of New Zealand, was a missionary in China in the
1940s and later in Malaysia. He then worked in the division of
interchurch aid, refugees and world service of the World Council of
Churches.
At UMCOR, he was an advocate for service to those in need and for
education about the impact of poverty and political oppression on
millions of people.
"He was a man of great energy and contagious hope," Day said. "He
wrote widely on the themes of mission and humanitarian assistance and
their inseparable identities. He was a dynamic speaker, and loved
nothing more than to visit congregations to tell them the story of how
the church responds to disasters and humanitarian needs."
He wrote seven books published by Abingdon Press, a part of the
United Methodist Publishing House, including an analysis of China and
its 20th century political revolutions. Haines continued to be active on
behalf of mission after his retirement.
Haines was a strong supporter of economic self-development of people
in poor countries and among the marginalized in more affluent regions.
He was quick to observe the growing global gap between the richer North
and the poor South. In 1984, shortly after his retirement, Haines made
an urgent appeal to the church to "realize that we’re living in a
bitterly divided world (and) we have limited resources; therefore, we
have to be specialists in designated areas in the least developed
countries."
J. Harry Haines was born June 29, 1917. He and his wife, the former
Loma Housley, the daughter of missionaries, married in 1944. Two of
their four sons preceded him in death. The surviving sons are Dr. John
Haines of Eugene and David Haines of San Francisco.
Haines received his early schooling in New Zealand, Australia and
England. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from Western Maryland
University, Westminster, and his theological degree from what is today
Wesley Theological Seminary. He earned the master of arts and doctor of
philosophy degrees from Princeton University.
He held membership in several United Methodist annual (regional)
conferences during his ministry. At the time of his death, he was a
member of the Oregon-Idaho Conference. Haines served for 38 years —
including 21 as a missionary — with the Board of Global Ministries and
its predecessor organizations.
A celebration of his life is scheduled for June 30, at John G. Shedd
Institute for the Arts in Eugene. The time has not been set. Messages
may be sent to Mrs. Loma Haines at Cascade Manor, 65 W. 30th Ave., Eugene, OR 97405.
*Wright is the information officer of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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United Methodist Committee on Relief
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