ANN H. RAWLINGS

RAWLINGS--Ann Haynes, Director of Public Outreach and Program Administration at The Interfaith Center of New York City, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, November 2nd, after snorkeling in Cancun, Mexico. Annie-as she preferred to be known-lived in an intentional community at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church on E. 74th where the poor are fed and clothed, and the homeless given support. She was a driving force at The Interfaith Center, developing its Prepare New York initiative and helping create The Family and Faith Re-entry Circles of Support Program that connected volunteers of diverse faith traditions with formerly incarcerated men and women returning home. She was the co-chair of the Presbyterian Church USA's planning team for its Interfaith Consultation, and had been an Associate Executive Presbyter with focus on witness to the society and the world for the Presbytery of New York City. She was a tireless advocate for the protection and enlargement of immigrant rights. Over the last twenty years she worked at the cutting edge of social justice struggles, designing strategic think-tanks for the city's leading clergy who in the 1990s were meeting regularly at Marble Collegiate Church. Later she coordinated similar meetings with church and community leaders at Fordham University. She was Associate Executive Presbyter with focus on witness to the society and the world for the Presbytery of New York City. She sought to draw the city's religious leaders across faith groups in strategic coalitions to oppose the injustices in the criminal justice system and strengthen community-police relations. Her broad range of interests included a love of music and, for those who knew her, her love of Bruce Springsteen. Annie was a graduate of Shaker Heights High school, Earlham College, and received her Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Before moving to New York City in 1996, she lived in San Francisco. She is survived by her parents, Rev. Charles Rawlings and Joan Rawlings; her brother Edward Rawlings of Berkeley, California and his partner, Loras Ojeda; her sister Carol Rawlings Miller and brother-in-law Jim Miller; her nephew, eleven-year-old Jack Rawlings Miller; her aunt, Julia Rawlings, and cousins, Mark and Alan Rawlings. She will be terribly missed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to The Interfaith Center of New York City, Jan Hus Homeless Outreach (351 E. 74th Street, NY.NY.) or to Rehabilitation through the Arts.