National Baptist Convention Convicted Pastor Vies for Presidency

Members of the National Baptist Convention, USA seem determined to practice what they preach.

In what would be an ultimate act of forgiveness, the denomination seems poised to re-elect as their president the Rev. Henry Lyons, who bilked them of millions when he was last entrusted to lead the church.

Lyons is the presumed frontrunner among those vying to head the denomination—one of the largest Black organizations in the United States—in a Sept. 10 runoff during the denomination’s annual convention in Memphis, Tenn. His competition is the Rev. Julius R. Scruggs, of First Missionary Baptist Church, Huntsville, Ala.

Now pastor of the New Salem Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla., Lyons was convicted in 1999 on charges of grand theft and racketeering after he stole $5.2 million from the church’s corporate partners, including donations to rebuild burnt Black churches. The minister used the pilfered monies to fund a lavish lifestyle that included travel, cars, luxurious dwellings and mistresses.

Lyons’ sins came to light after his then-wife Deborah ignited a $700,000 waterfront house he co-owned with another woman, according to news reports, and he spent almost five years in prison.

"It stinks in God’s nostrils, and I know it stinks in the law’s nostrils, and it stinks to me,” he said of his crimes, according to the {Tulsa World.}

Now having declared himself repentant, the disgraced minister is campaigning for his former job under the theme: "Restore the love, and repair the breach.''

Many within the denomination say they are willing to forgive Lyons but not all are willing to forget — or to re-elect him as president.

The Rev. Dr. L.B. West, pastor of Mount Airy Baptist Church in Northeast Washington, D.C., said many still hold the charismatic Lyons in “high esteem.”

“He is still well-respected. Having gone through what he’s gone through, and now that he’s on his feet, people are showing him love and forgiveness—we all make mistakes,” West told the {AFRO.} “However, when it comes to his being elected to lead this august body, I don’t know that people are going to be ready to re-elect him.”

Venerable Baltimore minister, the Rev. Dr. A.C.D. Vaughn of Sharon Baptist Church, said if Lyons is chosen he could taint the image of the denomination.

“He has paid his debt to society, going to prison and all, but I’m still not sure that it would send out a good image,” said the much respected minister. “When you are in a high position…you ought to be someone with high ethical and moral standards…you to be there without raising questions.”

Lyons has said publicly that his candidacy was mandated by a God-given call to leadership.

But West, who plans to support Rev. Scruggs, said the time for Lyons’ leadership has passed.

“It’s a new day; the convention has moved forward and we need to continue moving forward,” the District minister said. If Dr. Lyons is elected, “he would do what any other person elected would do, which is to lead according to his own direction and vision…but the convention is well beyond the vision Dr. Lyons brought years ago.”