Henry J. Lyons, beleaguered president of the National Baptist Convention USA, was forgiven by his board during a September annual session in which he confessed he had an "inappropriate" relationship with a female employee.
But the unanimous decision by 195 board members to forgive Lyons did not put an end to his problems. He faces trial in Florida state and federal courts on charges he used his position to steal millions of dollars from big corporations. A decline in donations has brought about a financial crisis within the denomination, which claims 8 million members. Critics contend the convention has inflated statistics and really has fewer than 1 million members.
In his annual address, Lyons, 56, said he has made "serious miscalculations in judgment" in his personal and professional lives. "From the bottom of my soul, I am truly sorry. I want you to forgive me. I ask for your mercy," he said. The convention proved merciful. After forgiving Lyons, it passed a resolution forgiving President Clinton for his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. "We stand firmly behind our President," Lyons said. "We'd like to see the majority Republican Congress get off his back. We'd like to see Mr. Starr get off his back."
BEGINNING OF TROUBLES: Lyons's troubles began in July 1997 when his wife of 26 years, Deborah, set a fire that damaged a $700,000 waterfront house in Tierra Verde, Florida, near Saint Petersburg. Lyons owns the home with Bernice V. Edwards, a former convention public-relations director once convicted of embezzling $60,000 from a school for at-risk students. Deborah Lyons told police she started the fire in a fit of anger after learning Lyons and Edwards own the house together. She later pleaded guilty to arson and was placed on five years' probation. The fire prompted a series of news reports about Lyons's personal and financial dealings (CT, Sept. 1, 1997, p. 94). Records showed he and Edwards also own a $22,500 time-share condominium in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and had been negotiating to buy a $925,000 mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lyons and Edwards also bought a $36,200 diamond ring from a Saint Petersburg jewelry store.
The ring was purchased with a check written on the Baptist Builder Fund, an account not mentioned in the convention's financial audit. By the time Lyons went to the convention's 1997 annual meeting in Denver, he was under investigation by Florida and U.S. government officials. But he survived as president even after dissident members of the convention seized the floor and tried to force him out (CT, Oct. 27, 1997, p. 102). In February, Florida officials charged him with racketeering and grand theft, saying he stole millions of dollars from an insurance company, a funeral company, and numerous other entities that did business with the convention. Edwards was charged as his accomplice. Five months later, federal prosecutors charged Lyons with 54 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, tax evasion, extortion, money laundering, and conspiracy. Also charged were Edwards and convention meeting planner Brenda Harris. All pleaded innocent and are free pending trial.
RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONED: Questions about Lyons's relationship with Harris were first raised last year. According to news reports, Harris's Nashville neighbors said the two introduced themselves at a 1997 social gathering as Brenda and Henry Harris, an engaged couple who happened to share the last name. Both later denied they were romantically involved. But at last month's convention board meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, they acknowledged the reports were true. Both said they were sorry. Harris also apologized to Deborah Lyons, who was present for the meeting. "Dr. Henry Lyons is an innocent man and will continue to be that until he is proven guilty," said E. V. Hill, a board member and consistent supporter of Lyons. "Afro-Baptists are a peculiar people. We aren't just sellers of the gospel; we're users."
Not everyone has been so forgiving. "At this point, if Dr. Lyons had any love left for himself and the National Baptist Convention, he would step down," Charles Kenyatta of New York City said. "To drag millions of people through all this mud is a shame. In the 118 years of our existence, we've never had a president this dumb."
COMING CHALLENGE: Lyons, elected to a five-year term as president in 1994, will face at least five challengers when he runs for re-election next September. (He announced his candidacy in Kansas City.) These candidates are emphasizing honesty, integrity, and financial accountability—all of which, they say, have been missing under Lyons.
In the aftermath of the scandal, donations are down sharply, leaving the denomination little choice but to cut back on its missionary work and gifts to historically black colleges. Lyons announced the convention was behind $300,000 on its mortgage on the Baptist World Center in Nashville, with another $664,000 payment due soon. Still, many members responded generously when Hill asked them to donate to Lyons's legal defense. In one remarkable 20-minute stretch, supporters collected more than $40,000, much of it coming in checks of $500 or more. Lyons said he was humbled by the expressions of support. "I have not given all of the sterling, without-flaw leadership that I came to this office to give," he said.
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