ABOUT LYNDON HARRIS
In the summer of 2001, Lyndon Harris was the priest in charge of St. Paul's Chapel at Trinity on Wall Street. Amidst a world-turned-upside-down on September 11, 2001, he worked with a volunteer force that rose to 15,000 people. Seeing that St. Paul's had been spared from the devastation, he concluded that, "it was not because we were holier than anyone who died across the street; it was because we now had a big job to do." Day after day, breathing in the Ground Zero toxicity, Harris and the brave volunteers served more than 500,000 meals to courageous rescue workers whose attitude was: We Will Not Leave...until the job is done.
Dramatic as they were, the trials and triumphs of 9/11 were the trigger of the aftermath that began on 9/12. For Harris (who registered more than 240 days exposure to Ground Zero) and others like him, his volunteer efforts were repaid by suffering from compromised lung function, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, the end of his marriage, the loss of his home, and his priestly vocation. The man who had performed sacred rituals in satin robes became a ranch hand shoveling manure, and in those years of recovery he discovered the path to forgiveness. Now, with a new lease on life, Lyndon Harris has a message to share. He also consults with communities to embrace and develop local Gardens of Forgiveness.
BRIEF RESUME
FELLOWSHIPS AND HONORS
Selected for “People Making a Difference” column, The Christian Science Monitor Selected for List, “Real Richest People in America 2007”
“Blessed are the Peacemakers” Award, World Council of Churches, 2004
Dean’s Medal, The General Theological Seminary, 2002
Inducted into the Honorary Order of Saint John the Theologian, The Episcopal Diocese of New York, 2002
Distinguished Young Alumnus, Wofford College, 2002 Faithful Alumnus Award, The School of Theology, The University of the South, 2002
Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow, 1997-2000
EDUCATION
The General Theological Seminary
Th.D. Candidate, Anglican Systematic Theology and Twentieth-Century Anglican Theology (ABD, March 12, 1998)
The School of Theology, The University of the South
Master of Divinity, received May 1990
Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
B.A., Double major in Philosophy and Humanities, received 1983
In the summer of 2001, Lyndon Harris was the priest in charge of St. Paul's Chapel at Trinity on Wall Street. Amidst a world-turned-upside-down on September 11, 2001, he worked with a volunteer force that rose to 15,000 people. Seeing that St. Paul's had been spared from the devastation, he concluded that, "it was not because we were holier than anyone who died across the street; it was because we now had a big job to do." Day after day, breathing in the Ground Zero toxicity, Harris and the brave volunteers served more than 500,000 meals to courageous rescue workers whose attitude was: We Will Not Leave...until the job is done.
Dramatic as they were, the trials and triumphs of 9/11 were the trigger of the aftermath that began on 9/12. For Harris (who registered more than 240 days exposure to Ground Zero) and others like him, his volunteer efforts were repaid by suffering from compromised lung function, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, the end of his marriage, the loss of his home, and his priestly vocation. The man who had performed sacred rituals in satin robes became a ranch hand shoveling manure, and in those years of recovery he discovered the path to forgiveness. Now, with a new lease on life, Lyndon Harris has a message to share. He also consults with communities to embrace and develop local Gardens of Forgiveness.
BRIEF RESUME
- Speaker and presenter on topics of Forgiveness, Peace Making, Conflict Transformation, and Coping with Public Tragedy
- June 2014 to present, Co-Director of Tigg's Pond Retreat Center, Zirconia, NC
- January 2006 to present, Executive Director, The Gardens of Forgiveness non-profit
- September 2011 to April 2014: Director for Inspiration, Compassion and Outreach, Founder’s Circle of Creative Visions Foundation, Malibu CA
- June 2006 to March 2011: Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher Street, New York, New York
- January 1, 2003 to August 2004: Consultant for Urban Ministries and Re-Imagining the City, Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York, New York
- March 15, 2001 to October 13, 2002: Priest in Charge, Saint Paul’s Chapel, Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York, New York
- From 1990, served various Episcopal congregations and institutions in South Carolina and New York
FELLOWSHIPS AND HONORS
Selected for “People Making a Difference” column, The Christian Science Monitor Selected for List, “Real Richest People in America 2007”
“Blessed are the Peacemakers” Award, World Council of Churches, 2004
Dean’s Medal, The General Theological Seminary, 2002
Inducted into the Honorary Order of Saint John the Theologian, The Episcopal Diocese of New York, 2002
Distinguished Young Alumnus, Wofford College, 2002 Faithful Alumnus Award, The School of Theology, The University of the South, 2002
Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow, 1997-2000
EDUCATION
The General Theological Seminary
Th.D. Candidate, Anglican Systematic Theology and Twentieth-Century Anglican Theology (ABD, March 12, 1998)
The School of Theology, The University of the South
Master of Divinity, received May 1990
Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina
B.A., Double major in Philosophy and Humanities, received 1983
I came kicking and screaming to the work of forgiveness. Thought I had it all figured out. Until I had to do the hard work: forgiving institutions, forgiving myself, forgiving 9/11, forgiving life. I remember the first time I really heard the beautiful quotation from the late Nelson Mandela: "Not to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemies to die from it." Wow. Changed my life. Anyone out there still drinking the poison? Let's talk!
My passion is to teach and speak on topics ranging from forgiveness, peace making in the world, conflict transformation, and coping with public tragedy. Please email or call me at 310-710-4322 to arrange a presentation.
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
October 27, 2018 A Journey to Forveness seminar at the Namaste Center of Flat Rock, NC
http://www.thenamastecenter.com
September 20, 2017 Keynote Address - Employee Assistance Professionals Association of South Africa World EAP in Johannesburg, SA
http://eapasaconference.co.za
September 11, 2017 - Memorial Address, 9/11 Memorial Service at The Garden of Reflection, Bucks County, PA
http://www.9-11memorialgarden.org
July 14, 2017 - Forgiveness Workshop at the Wild Goose Festival, Hot Springs, NC
http://wildgoosefestival.org
July 24 and 31st 2016 - Trinity Presbyterian Church, Hendersonville, NC
http://www.trinitypresnc.org
October 18-20, 2016 LifeNet Health Faith Leaders’ Summit - Virginia Beach, VA
https://www.lifenethealth.org/www.lifenethealth.org/faithsummit
October 30 - November 2, 2016 World Employees' Assistance Professionals Conference, Chicago
http://www.eapassn.org/2016Conf
November 18-20, 2016 Giving and Forgiving Conference
Ahimsa Center for Nonviolence in Thought and Action
California Polytechnic State University, Pamona CA
http://www.cpp.edu/~ahimsacenter/files/conference_16_save%20the%20dates.pdf
My passion is to teach and speak on topics ranging from forgiveness, peace making in the world, conflict transformation, and coping with public tragedy. Please email or call me at 310-710-4322 to arrange a presentation.
RECENT PRESENTATIONS
October 27, 2018 A Journey to Forveness seminar at the Namaste Center of Flat Rock, NC
http://www.thenamastecenter.com
September 20, 2017 Keynote Address - Employee Assistance Professionals Association of South Africa World EAP in Johannesburg, SA
http://eapasaconference.co.za
September 11, 2017 - Memorial Address, 9/11 Memorial Service at The Garden of Reflection, Bucks County, PA
http://www.9-11memorialgarden.org
July 14, 2017 - Forgiveness Workshop at the Wild Goose Festival, Hot Springs, NC
http://wildgoosefestival.org
July 24 and 31st 2016 - Trinity Presbyterian Church, Hendersonville, NC
http://www.trinitypresnc.org
October 18-20, 2016 LifeNet Health Faith Leaders’ Summit - Virginia Beach, VA
https://www.lifenethealth.org/www.lifenethealth.org/faithsummit
October 30 - November 2, 2016 World Employees' Assistance Professionals Conference, Chicago
http://www.eapassn.org/2016Conf
November 18-20, 2016 Giving and Forgiving Conference
Ahimsa Center for Nonviolence in Thought and Action
California Polytechnic State University, Pamona CA
http://www.cpp.edu/~ahimsacenter/files/conference_16_save%20the%20dates.pdf