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General Convention Working Release #42

Diocesan Press Service. October 17, 1964 [XXV-13]

ST. LOUIS, Mo., October 17-- John Elbridge Hines-- what manner of man is he? This question was on everyone's lips here today at the 61st General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, when the 54-year-old Bishop of the Diocese of Texas was elected Presiding Bishop of the Church.

He has been described as a man of prophetic, with a strong belief in the responsible use of freedom.

In his home city of Houston, Texas, the Rt. Rev. John E. Hines has espoused the cause of racial justice with forthrightness, declaring from the pulpit and to secular groups the same viewpoint he expressed here today immediately after his election: "All men are one in Christ." He stated that the task of making possible equal opportunity for all people is the major urgency confronting the Church today.

After the site of the Episcopal Church's General Convention was changed from Houston to Honolulu in 1955 because the Texas city could not offer sufficient guarantees of desegregated housing for its delegates, Bishop Hines moved more firmly than ever into the forefront of the forces working to liberalize these attitudes. Great numbers of Texans, outside his Houston home accord him respect for his leadership in this effort. Even those who disagree with him admire his integrity.

Bishop Hines has incurred wide disfavor among right-wing conservatives in his home state and elsewhere, but has never compromised his position or diminished his efforts to promulgate it. He has been the recipient of no little harassment, as a result of his stand.

On the racial front he has not personally participated in public demonstrations, but has made it a practice to support fully any of the priests under his jurisdiction who have taken this and other activist means of expressing their Christian convictions.

Bishop Hines stated this noon that "it is the obligation of the Church to speak clearly and frankly about Christian responsibility toward social and political issues, but not to espouse partisan views or give support to any candidates for the office."

The new Presiding Bishop carefully assesses situations then places strong confidence in selected persons to handle their portions of any given task. When difficulties arise, he gives full support to his fellow-workers. As one Texas priest puts it, "No matter how many chips are down, he goes with you all the way, in public, and then works the problem through with you privately until it is resolved."

Bishop Hines is an organized man whose self-imposed schedule allows him to accomplish a great deal without lost motion. He leads an orderly and well-balanced life, professionally as well as personally. He maintains a demanding work schedule, yet manages never to seem hurried on any given occasion.

Among his enthusiasms are classical music, foreign cars, sports-- tennis and gold-- and antique furniture. Bishop Hines is a patron of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the owner of two automobiles which he tends and polishes with great affection, and a rabid fan of Southwest Conference football. He and Mrs. Hines have filled their home with a much-admired collection of antique furniture, including some treasured family pieces from his South Carolina childhood home.

The man John Elbridge Hines, then, regionally is a Southerner, but his intellectual horizons extend beyond. He is considered to be a prophet with the courage to differ from many of his contemporaries. He also exhibits a high regard for the integrity of persons, and exemplifies in his attitudes a strong doctrine of responsible freedom under God.

It appears that the post of "first among equals" of the Protestant Episcopal Church moves, by today's action of General Convention, to a person whose competence equips him well to follow his distinguished predecessors. The several thousand Episcopalians who greeted him today in Kiel Auditorium Opera House responded to his appearance before them with a prolonged standing ovation, applause, cheers, and then-- on no cue whatever-- the full-throated singing of the Doxology, in soprano and tenor and bass.