12:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004 -- The Rev. Lyndon Harris, who achieved nationwide renown for his work post-9/11 at St. Paul’s Chapel, just across the street from “Ground Zero,” will keynote an interfaith dialogue in New York City on “Religion-Related Violence and Resources for Healing from Faith Communities.”  Venue: James Chapel of Union Theological Seminary, 121^st and Broadway, New York City. 

Sponsored by: National Council of Churches USA Interfaith Relations Commission, Union Theological Seminary, The Interfaith Center of New York, Religions for Peace USA and New York Disaster Interfaith Services.  Contact: Deidre Lee at (212) 870-3403 or dlee@ncccusa.org

Details: Religious people representing Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths are expected to attend as part of a search for alternative, multilateral ways of addressing terror and to develop an ongoing agenda for continued interfaith relationships in New York.  Their houses of worship continue to provide spiritual resources to help New Yorkers heal from the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, and interfaith organizations continue to provide direct services such as grief counseling, health services and training for disaster preparedness as well as opportunities for religious leaders to build personal and institutional relationships through interfaith dialogue. 

Schedule:

• 12:30 - Lunch/registration

• 1:15 - Welcome by the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, NCC General Secretary

• 1:30 - Keynote address by the Rev. Lyndon Harris

Fr. Harris was recruited to the parish in 2001 to begin a new ministry to young people at the 18th-century chapel, but the attack on the World Trade Center a week before the formal launch of the ministry forced the cancellation of the plans.  St. Paul's was closed to the public and opened to rescue and recovery workers, serving for eight months as a refuge from Ground Zero, where meals, counseling, and health services were available.

• 2:00 – Responses, breakout groups and plenary discussion leading to release of a public statement.

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