Henry Lyons

Lyons 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). He then entered the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.{{cite news| title=Henry Lyons: The making of a preacher|url=http://www.sptimes.com/lyons_special/making_of_a_preacher.html|work=St. Petersburg Times|author=Mike Wilson|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713231240/http://www.sptimes.com/lyons_special/making_of_a_preacher.html|year=1998|archive-date=July 13, 2006}}

In 1970, he moved to Cincinnati. In 1972 he gained a more important position in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s.

In 1977 he became Vice President of the Florida General Baptist Convention, and was then its President from 1981 to 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.

Always a charismatic speaker, 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.[https://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.

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)] Encyclopedia.com and in summer 1998 he was indicted by federal prosecutors for fraud, extortion, money laundering, conspiracy and tax evasion.[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9504E5D91431F93BA1575BC0A961958260 New Reports of Misspending by Baptist Leader – New York Times][http://www.sptimes.com/News2/lyons/archive.html The Rev. Henry Lyons: A ministry questioned], St. Petersburg Times[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/74/story_7463_1.html Imprisoned Minister Lyons and Wife Divorcing], 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][http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/07039/Feds_indict_Lyons__wo.html Feds indict Lyons, women], St. Petersburg Times, July 3, 1998 He initially protested his innocence and claimed there was a racial motivation for the charges, 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 Rev. Henry Lyons Sentencing] Court TV {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060130205033/http://www.courttv.com/archive/trials/lyons/061899_ctv.html |date=2006-01-30 }} 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,[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0D71739F932A35757C0A96F958260 Tearful Baptist Leader Is Given 5½-Year Term in Graft Case] New York Times a post from which he had already resigned.

[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9502EFD61E3EF934A25750C0A96F958260 Lyons Steps Down From Presidency of Black Baptist Group] New York Times 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 Criminal pastor heads back to pulpit] CNN, November 30, 2003 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211113729/http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/11/30/priest.freed.ap/index.html |date=2007-12-11 }} He currently is the pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida.

On June 15, 2017 Lyons was forced out of his position by the board of trustees, amid accusations of theft, misconduct.[https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/the-rev-henry-lyons-forced-out-as-pastor-of-tampa-church-amid-accusations/2327607/ The Rev. Henry Lyons forced out as pastor of Tampa church amid accusations of theft, misconduct] tampabay.com

In April 2007 Lyons was defeated in an attempt to be re-elected President of the Florida General Baptist Convention.[http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/05/State/Lyons_loses_bid_for_o.shtml Lyons loses bid for old job] 2007/04/05 Subsequently, he and his supporters organized the General Baptist State Convention of Florida,[http://www.generalbaptiststateconventionfl.com General Baptist State Convention of Florida] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916041238/http://www.generalbaptiststateconventionfl.com/ |date=2009-09-16 }} of which he is the President. In 2009, he was defeated in his bid for presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA.[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/us/11brfs-OUSTEDBAPTIS_BRF.html?_r=1 Ousted Baptist Leader Loses Bid] New York Times, 2009/09/11

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070106010417/http://www.nationalbaptist.com/Index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000082 National Baptist Convention USA history page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050829025923/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]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060130205033/http://www.courttv.com/archive/trials/lyons/061899_ctv.html Court TV on his trial]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050907215930/http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/South/11/30/priest.freed.ap/ CNN article on his release]

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Category:1942 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Volusia County, Florida

Category:Clergy of historically African-American Christian denominations

Category:American people convicted of money laundering

Category:National Baptist Convention, USA ministers

Category:Protestant religious leaders convicted of crimes

Category:Members of the clergy convicted of fraud

Category:American members of the clergy convicted of crimes

Category:21st-century African-American people

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:Finance fraud in Evangelicalism