NEWS STORY: Lyons expected to return church rebuilding funds to ADL

c. 1997 Religion News Service (RNS) The Anti-Defamation League is expecting the Rev. Henry J. Lyons to return $189,500 that was donated to rebuild burned churches after a newspaper reported that the National Baptist Convention, USA, president has not given most of the money to the intended congregations. ADL spokeswoman Myrna Shinbaum said her organization […]

c. 1997 Religion News Service

(RNS) The Anti-Defamation League is expecting the Rev. Henry J. Lyons to return $189,500 that was donated to rebuild burned churches after a newspaper reported that the National Baptist Convention, USA, president has not given most of the money to the intended congregations.

ADL spokeswoman Myrna Shinbaum said her organization is awaiting the check but had not received it as of early Monday (Sept. 15) afternoon.”Our attorney spoke with Lyons’ attorney and told him we would like that money as well as a full accounting of the monies that were spent,”Shinbaum said.


Last November, Lyons received a check for $225,000 from the ADL/National Urban League’s”Rebuild the Churches Fund.”He wrote a letter later that month to an ADL official detailing how six churches received $35,000 each _ for a total of $210,000 _ and a seventh would receive the remaining $15,000.

The ADL, which acted as bookkeeper for the joint fund, gave Lyons’ denomination an additional $19,500 in February, bringing the total donation to $244,500.

But according to the Tampa Tribune, the six churches received a total of $55,000, leaving a balance of $189,500.

Shinbaum said the ADL first became concerned about Lyons’ disbursement of the donation after media accounts questioned it.”We had no reason to believe that the monies weren’t being directed to where he said they would be directed,”she said.”We didn’t think … there was a need to micromanage that until the media found otherwise.” Asked about future relations with Lyons’ denomination, Shinbaum said,”We wouldn’t close the door completely but under Rev. Lyons’ leadership, I’m not sure that at this point we would be doing business with them.” Shinbaum said once the money is returned the ADL will decide how to redistribute the funds but she said”unequivocably”that the money will be used for the rebuilding of burned churches.

In his Sept. 12 letter to ADL officials, Grady C. Irvin Jr., one of Lyons’ attorneys, confirmed that $189,500 had been delivered to his Tampa, Fla., office.”As you know, in comparison to the millions of dollars received by other organizations, the NBC received a de minimis (but yet important) sum of $244,500,”Irvin wrote.”Of this amount $189,500 has now been delivered to my office and placed into escrow; the balance has long since been in the possession of needy churches. In light of the concerns expressed by Mr. Foxman, Dr. Lyons thought it appropriate this money be removed from possession of the NBC or any of its officers.” Irvin concluded his letter by expressing his hope that the reputations of the organizations involved would remain intact.”Dr. Lyons, as well as the NBC, are saddened by the fact that a story appearing in a local newspaper has left the inference that the money is unavailable and may be being used for a personal purpose,”Irvin wrote.”Dr. Lyons trusts that the fine work of the ADL, as well as the NBC, will not be overshadowed by this unfortunate misunderstanding.” Lyons has been responding to allegations about his marital and financial irregularities since July, when his wife was charged with committing arson at a luxury home Lyons bought with a female church official. Despite calls for his ouster by some in the NBCUSA, Lyons succeeded in retaining his post as head of the predominantly black denomination during its annual meeting earlier this month.

After questioning about his marital fidelity and use of church funds, Lyons admitted to unspecified mistakes, but denied having an affair with the co-owner of the house and said he did not spend church money on personal purchases.

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