Luminary: Lyndon Harris

Luminary: Lyndon Harris

The Reverend Lyndon F. Harris was the priest in charge of the relief ministries at Ground Zero offered through Saint Paul's Chapel after the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001. Father Harris joined the staff of Trinity Church/ Saint Paul's Chapel in April 2001 in order to develop at Saint Paul's Chapel a "laboratory for urban evangelism and alternative worship." However, from September 15, 2001 to June 2, 2002, Saint Paul's Chapel was converted into a multi-faith relief center for those working in the World Trade Center site. Saint Paul's offered food, massage therapy, counseling, and chiropractic and podiatric care around the clock. By the end of the operation, over one half million meals were served. For the work at Saint Paul's Chapel, Father Harris has appeared on most major news networks, as well as in magazines and newspapers. Father Harris now serves as Consultant in Urban Ministries and Re-imagining the City at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City. Harris is one of the leaders of the 9-12 Community, a multi-faith civic organization seeking to help rebuild lives and to help re-imagine New York City in the wake of 9/11. Father Harris is privileged to travel around the country speaking about "Spirituality and Healing at Ground Zero" and "A New Church for the 21st Century."

Harris is a graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC (BA 1983), and The School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee (M. Div. 1990). Currently, Father Harris is a Th. D. candidate (ABD) in systematic theology at The General Theological Seminary. Harris is a fellow of the Episcopal Church Foundation, and has been honored to receive several awards including the Dean's Medal for Exemplary Service from General Seminary, and Distinguished Alumnus Awards from Wofford College and the School of Theology at the University of the South. Father Harris lives in Manhattan with his wife Kirsten, and their daughter Gaia.