Dr. Hines has served in numerous roles on the local, diocesan and

national levels of the Episcopal Church.  She was a Trustee of the Diocese (2000 – 2015) and served as deputy to Western Massachusetts Diocesan Conventions from St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and Holy Spirit Episcopal Church (1991 – 2019). With her husband, Rev. John Edgar Freeman, they served as Chaplains to the 2017 Diocesan Convention; and on the Worcester Planning Committee for the “Revival” visit of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry to Worcester MA in 2018.

 

“Debbie” served as National President of the Union of Black Episcopalians from 1982 – 1988, the first woman to serve in that role. She served as Deputy to General Convention from the Diocese of Western Massachusetts 1991 – 2012, and chaired the GC Legislative Committee on the Church Pension Fund[1] 2006, 2009 and 2012.  Debbie served on the editorial committee for the Lift Every Voice and Sing II Hymnal, 1988 – 1993.  She served as a Trustee of the Church Pension Fund from 2000 – 2012, serving on the Social Responsibility in Investment Committee 2003 – 2012, and the Search Committee that brought in Mary Kate Wold as the new CPG CEO. Debbie served on the Liberian Covenant Committee 1999 – 2010, chairing the committee 2005 – 2010, work for which she received recognition.  https://umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2015/03/deborah-harmon-hines-recognized-for-tireless-work-in-liberia/

 

Presently, Debbie serves as a consultant to the Diocese of West Tennessee. She is a member and secretary of the Joint Committee on the Election of the Presiding Bishop. The election will take place at General Convention in 2024.

 

Debbie spent her secular professional life in medical education at Meharry Medical College (1976 – 1989) and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (1989 – 2016). She rose through the academic and administrative ranks to Professor of Radiology, Cell Biology and Nursing and Vice Provost for School Services at UMass Medical School. She was awarded the Professor Emeritus of Radiology rank upon her retirement in 2016.

 

The daughter of the late Jessie James and Callie M. Turner Harmon, Debbie grew up in Memphis attending public schools there. She earned a bachelor’s degree from LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis) and a doctorate degree in Human Anatomy from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center (Memphis). Debbie is married to Rev. John Edgar Freeman, an Episcopal priest. They have a blended family of seven adult children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

 

Some of her secular achievements are listed here:

• https://umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2016/10/deborah-harmon-hines-to-retire-has-made-a-rare-and-powerful-impact-on-community/

• https://umassmed.edu/radiology/radnews/2016/September/deborahharmonhines/

• https://umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2015/06/harmon-hines-named-recipient-of-bruce-alberts-award-for-excellence-in-science-education/

 

[1] The Church Pension Fund: 1) provides pensions, health, disability and life insurance to all employees of the Episcopal Church; 2) provides property and casualty insurance for Episcopal churches, schools, etc.; and 3) is home to the Church Publishing Company that publishes the Prayer Books, Hymnals and other written religious materials. It is governed by Trustees elected at General Convention. Assets today are listed at $25 billion dollars.