Former National Baptist Convention USA President Henry J Lyons Dies at 83

Rev Henry J Lyons, the former president of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc, who was imprisoned following a fraud scandal that led to his resignation, has died. He was 83.

His death occurred on 27th October, according to a Gainesville, Florida, funeral home.

Lyons, who served as pastor of the Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church in St Petersburg, Florida, and president of the National Baptist Convention USA, was known for his leadership within the historically Black denomination. A Facebook statement from current NBCUSA President Boise Kimber and the denomination’s executive board reflected on his life and service, noting his dedication strengthened the convention’s witness. “His unwavering commitment to the church and community will be remembered with deep respect and gratitude,” the statement read.

Born in Gainesville, Lyons studied at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He was elected president of the denomination in 1994 and resigned in 1999 after being convicted on state racketeering charges involving the misuse of funds intended for burned churches.

State and federal officials began investigating his finances as allegations arose regarding possible misuse of church funds and marital infidelity. These allegations emerged after his wife set fire to a home he co-purchased with a denominational official. He resigned against the wishes of the majority of the denomination’s board at the time.

“I asked them to respectfully allow me to make the decision I felt that, as a man, I needed to make,” Lyons said in tearful remarks weeks before his sentencing. “I felt that I had to resign, I should resign and therefore, I did resign.”

Lyons was also convicted of swindling millions from corporations seeking to market products to members of one of the nation’s largest Black denominations. He expressed remorse, stating he was “truly repentant” and that he “hated that I’ve hurt so many people.”

Other leaders within the NBCUSA forgave his errors and acknowledged his “outstanding leadership,” including efforts to reduce the denomination’s debt. He served four years in prison for grant theft and fraud on state charges. While incarcerated in a Florida correctional facility, he was also ordered by a federal district judge to pay $5.2 million in restitution for bank fraud and tax evasion.

After his release, Lyons spoke of his desire for leaders of Black denominations to uphold integrity and accountability, reflecting on the lessons learned from his own experiences. His life and leadership, marked by both service and scandal, offer a complex narrative of faith, fallibility, and the pursuit of redemption.

Source: Read the original report