Henri Stines was born of African, Spanish, German and French ancestry in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on October 9, 1923. He graduated from General Theological Seminary in 1945 and was ordained a deacon that same year. Two years later, he was ordained a priest. After serving in two parishes and the Seminaire Theologique in Haiti from 1945 to 1950, he returned to the United States, where he lived until his death in 1995.

In the United States, Stines served first as a vicar at St. James’ Church in Charleston, West Virginia, and as a chaplain at West Virginia State College. He became rector of Grace Church in Detroit, Michigan in 1953 and oversaw the racial integration of the parish. Reflecting on the process in 1955, Stines said, “Many people sort of girded themselves for friction, but none developed.” Grace Church became a model congregation for integration, studied by Episcopalians and other denominations alike, and was the largest and most active Episcopal church in Detroit upon Stines’ departure in 1964.

Following his service in Detroit, Stines worked for the Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity (ESCRU) as its Director of Southern Field Service. During this time, he led protests against segregation in the deep South and persuaded clergy and laity to become more involved in seeking justice for all people. He then served as rector of the Church of the Atonement in Washington, D.C. (1966-1969); All Souls Church in Berkeley, California (1969-1972); and Trinity Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois (1972-1986).

In addition to his pastoral work, Stines’ participated in the governance of The Episcopal Church. He was a deputy to the 1952, 1973, 1976, and 1979 General Conventions. Furthermore, while in Michigan, Washington, and California, he served on the Executive Councils of each diocese. He was the Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Chicago from 1986 until 1989.

Stines personal papers are housed at The Archives of the Episcopal Church.