The Reverend Canon Denise G. Haines, in the vanguard of women ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, former Archdeacon of the Diocese of Newark and developer of innovative clinical pastoral care programs died on October 8th in Summit, NJ. She was 73. The cause was cancer, said her daughter, Elizabeth L. Haines. She was a resident of Summit from 1967 to 1986 and then again from 2007 until the time of her death.
In 1973, Mrs. Haines was accepted as a student at The General Theological seminary in New York City at a time when women were not permitted to enter the priesthood. In 1976, The Episcopal Church, in General Convention, approved the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate. In 1977, Mrs. Haines was ordained, first as Deacon then as Priest after completing her Master of Divinity.
