Henry Lyons

The Reverend Henry Lyons (b. 1942) is a former President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. who was jailed on a series of federal charges.

Early life

Henry was raised by his grandfather, a Deacon named Booker T. Lyons. His own father, who was only 16 when Henry was born, played a minimal role in his childhood. He attended Gibbs Junior College in St. Petersburg, Florida (1960-62) and studied at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach (1962-64) and then entered the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta [ [http://www.rickross.com/reference/lyons/lyons31.html The Struggle for the Soul of Henry Lyons: The Making of a Preacher ] ] . While at Bethune-Cookman he fathered a child with Eartha Watson, another student [ [http://www.sptimes.com/lyons_special/making_of_a_preacher.html Henry Lyons: The making of a preacher ] ] . In the 1960s he was active as a preacher in the South and married Patricia Demons in 1966. Demons says she endured three years of physical abuse. In 1969, Lyons married Camilla Smith, a member of his church's youth group, just six weeks after becoming divorced from Demons. The second marriage lasted three years [ [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1997/october27/7tc102.html National Baptists: Lyons Survives Challenge | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction ] ] .

In 1970, he moved to Cincinnati and in 1972 he gained a more important position in St. Petersburg, Florida. He had also married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s; the marriage would be his longest lasting. In 1977 he became Vice President of the Florida Baptist Convention, and was then its President from 1981-1994 [ [http://www.sptimes.com/lyons_special/path_to_power.html Henry Lyons: The path to power ] ] . In 1994, Lyons became President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.

Presidency of the National Baptist Convention

Always a charismatic speaker, the Lyons tenure featured much activity. He established a Unified Program, reduced the debt on the Baptist World Center, and dissolved the debt on the Sunday School Publishing Board. In addition, many commissions were added to the convention. He pledged to "Raise a Standard" and overcome the difficulties caused by his predecessor T. J. Jemison's support of Mike Tyson in his rape case [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE5D8123BF935A25750C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Baptist President's Support for Tyson Is Assailed Inside and Outside Church - New York Times ] ] . However in many respects he would exacerbate, rather than diminish, the difficulties of the organization.

Personal and legal difficulties

From the beginning of his ministry, Lyons had problems concerning adultery and financing. His marriage to Patricia Demons had ended due to adultery and his marriage to Deborah had similar problems. Although his connections to charity and business initially seemed to be an asset, it would prove to be a strong liability for all concerned.

In July 1997, a house Lyons owned with a woman named Bernice Edwards, the Convention's public relations director [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E5D91431F93BA1575BC0A961958260 New Reports of Misspending by Baptist Leader - New York Times ] ] was subjected to an arson attack [ [http://www.sptimes.com/News2/lyons/archive.html The Rev. Henry Lyons: A ministry questioned ] ] for which Deborah Lyons was later charged, convicted and served probation [ [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/74/story_7463_1.html Beliefnet.com ] ] [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n10_v92/ai_19651125 Rev. Henry Lyons denies having an affair or misusing church funds - president of the National Baptist Convention USA | Jet | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] . In February 1998 he was charged with one count of racketeering and two counts of grand theft [ [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-20460254.html Henry Lyons charged with racketeering. (National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. president Henry J. Lyons) - The Christian Century | Encyclopedia.com ] ] , and in summer 1998 he was indicted by federal prosecutors for fraud, extortion, money laundering, conspiracy and tax evasion [ [http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/07039/Feds_indict_Lyons__wo.html Tampabay: Feds indict Lyons, women ] ] . He initially protested his innocence and claimed there was a racial motivation for the charges [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n10_v92/ai_19651125 Rev. Henry Lyons denies having an affair or misusing church funds - president of the National Baptist Convention USA | Jet | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] , but the proceedings of his trial and his eventual plea bargaining agreement dampened the enthusiasm of those who maintained his innocence [ [http://www.courttv.com/archive/trials/lyons/061899_ctv.html Court TV Online - T R I A L S - Rev. Henry Lyons Sentencing ] ] . In 1999 Lyons was sentenced to a total of five and a half years in jail for misappropriating more than $4 million from the NBC while he was its President [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D71739F932A35757C0A96F958260 Tearful Baptist Leader Is Given 5 1/2-Year Term in Graft Case - New York Times ] ] , a post from which he had already resigned [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502EFD61E3EF934A25750C0A96F958260 Lyons Steps Down From Presidency of Black Baptist Group - New York Times ] ] .Reverend Lyons himself also conceded the "inappropriate relationship" with Bernice Edwards and his divorce from Deborah was finalized in 2003 [ [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/74/story_7463_1.html Beliefnet.com ] ] . In November 2003, he was released on probation and returned to preaching in St Petersburg [ [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/11/30/priest.freed.ap/index.html CNN.com - Criminal pastor heads back to pulpit - Nov. 30, 2003 ] ] .

In April 2007 Lyons was defeated in an attempt to be re-elected President of the Florida Baptist Convention [ [http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/05/State/Lyons_loses_bid_for_o.shtml State: Lyons loses bid for old job ] ] . Subsequently he and his supporters organized the General Baptist State Convention of Florida [ [http://www.generalbaptiststateconventionfl.com General Baptist State Convention of Florida ] ] , of which he is the President. He has been frequently mentioned as a candidate for the Presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. for the 2009 election.

References

External links

* [http://www.nationalbaptist.com/Index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000082 National Baptist Convention USA history page]
* [http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/nbc_usa.html Religious Movements Page on the National Baptist Convention USA]
* [http://www.sptimes.com/lyons_special/ SPTimes special article on the Lyons case]
* [http://www.courttv.com/archive/trials/lyons/061899_ctv.html Court TV on his trial]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/11/30/priest.freed.ap/ CNN article on his release]