Henry Lyons
Encyclopedia
Reverend Henry J. Lyons (born 1942) is a former President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
.
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.
In 1970, he moved to Cincinnati and in 1972 he gained a more important position in St. Petersburg, Florida
. He had married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s. In 1977 he became Vice President of the Florida Baptist Convention
, and was then its President from 1981 to 1994. In 1994, Lyons became President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.
's support of Mike Tyson
in his rape case. However in many respects he would exacerbate, rather than diminish, the difficulties of the organization.
, extortion
, money laundering
, conspiracy
and tax evasion
. 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. 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, a post from which he had already resigned.
In November 2003, he was released on probation and returned to preaching in St Petersburg. He currently is the pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, FL.
In April 2007 Lyons was defeated in an attempt to be re-elected President of the Florida Baptist Convention. Subsequently he and his supporters organized the General Baptist State Convention of Florida, of which he is the President. In 2009, he was defeated in his bid to take presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA.
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. is the largest predominantly African-American Christian denomination in the United States and is the world's second largest Baptist denomination...
.
Early life
Henry was raised by his grandfather, a DeaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
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
St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg College is a fully accredited post-secondary educational institution located in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving some 65,000 students annually...
in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
(1960–62) and studied at Bethune-Cookman College
Bethune-Cookman College
Bethune-Cookman University or B-CU is a private historically black university in Daytona Beach, Florida.- History :Mary McLeod Bethune founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School in 1904...
in Daytona Beach (1962–64) and then entered the Interdenominational Theological Center
Interdenominational Theological Center
The Interdenominational Theological Center is a consortium of denominational seminaries located in Atlanta, Georgia. Today ITC educates and nurtures women and men who commit to and practice a liberating and transforming spirituality; academic discipline; religious, gender, and cultural diversity;...
in Atlanta.
In 1970, he moved to Cincinnati and in 1972 he gained a more important position in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. He had married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s. In 1977 he became Vice President of the Florida Baptist Convention
Florida Baptist Convention
The Florida Baptist Convention is a group of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention located in the U.S. state of Florida...
, and was then its President from 1981 to 1994. 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. JemisonT. J. Jemison
Theodore Judson Jemison , better known as T. J. Jemison, is the former president of the National Baptist Convention, having served from 1982 to 1994. It is the largest African American religious organization...
's support of Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
in his rape case. However in many respects he would exacerbate, rather than diminish, the difficulties of the organization.
Personal and legal difficulties
In February 1998 he was charged with one count of racketeering and two counts of grand theft, and in summer 1998 he was indicted by federal prosecutors for fraudFraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
, money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, conspiracy
Conspiracy (crime)
In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
and tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. 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. 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, a post from which he had already resigned.
In November 2003, he was released on probation and returned to preaching in St Petersburg. He currently is the pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, FL.
In April 2007 Lyons was defeated in an attempt to be re-elected President of the Florida Baptist Convention. Subsequently he and his supporters organized the General Baptist State Convention of Florida, of which he is the President. In 2009, he was defeated in his bid to take presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA.