c. 1999 Religion News Service
UNDATED _ The Rev. Henry J. Lyons is expected to resign his presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA, at a specially called meeting of the denomination’s board on Tuesday (March 16).
Lyons, who was convicted Feb. 27 of grand theft and racketeering by a Florida jury, will meet with the NBCUSA board and other members of the predominantly black denomination at his church in St. Petersburg, Fla.”I do anticipate that he will step down tomorrow,”Grady Irvin, Lyons’ lawyer, told Religion News Service on Monday.”I anticipate that there will be a changing of the guard with respect to the National Baptist Convention, USA.” Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced on March 31. Irvin told RNS that a federal court hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday (March 17)”which may in some way impact what goes on in state court.” He declined to be more specific.
Lyons also faces a federal trial, set to begin April 7, on 54 charges, including fraud, conspiracy, extortion and tax evasion. The St. Petersburg Times has reported that Lyons may be considering a proposed plea agreement under which he would plead guilty to some of the charges and get a reduced sentence.
ABC News will feature an interview with Lyons on”20/20 Monday”(8 p.m. EST), in which the Baptist leader indicates his resignation plans.”I really think it’s best,”he says, according to excerpts of an interview with Connie Chung released by ABC News.”The emphasis now must be on the church, on the convention, on the programs and missions and ministries of the convention. I feel that it’s time for me to let that be a priority.” Lyons goes on to say he has spent much time repenting for his deeds.”I’ve spent the last 18, 19, 20 months, repenting, repenting, repenting … over and over again,”he said.”I have said to my God, I am sorry. You gave me the opportunity of my life, one that I sought for all my life. You blessed me and I cursed you back.” Lyons was convicted of accepting more than $200,000 from the Anti-Defamation League to help burned black churches and never using most of it for that purpose.”I believe that one error alone has cost me all my credibility and what good name I ever dreamed of recovering or recapturing,”Lyons said.”The church burning situation is without a doubt the greatest pain … of my presidency … It was indeed morally reprehensible.” Lyons returned much of the money to the ADL, at that group’s request. He also was convicted of swindling millions from corporations wanting to market products to NBCUSA members.
The”20/20 Monday”report also features interviews with Deborah Lyons, Lyons’ wife, who calls him”an excellent husband, regardless of the affairs that he has admitted to,”and Assistant State Attorney Jim Hellickson, who said the Baptist leader”was enriching himself at the expense of his church.” Walter Cade, executive director of the Baptist World Center, the NBCUSA headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., said Lyons will meet with the board as well as members of the convention who choose to travel to the Tuesday meeting.
Cade said if it turns out that Lyons”feels strongly”that he should resign, then the convention would probably affirm his decision.”I would think that if that’s what he strongly feels, he’s been led spiritually to do that, then I think it’s a good idea,”he said.”He has taken enough hits and blows, dumps and everything else along with the convention … that it’s in his best interest and the convention’s that there’ll be no more … harm done to him and to the convention.” If the board follows regular procedure, the Rev. S.C. Cureton, vice president at-large, would become the leader of the convention until elections are held in September _ at the next annual meeting of the denomination _ for a new president.
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