'Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?' The Rev Lyons in action.
MEET the Rev Henry J Lyons. He’s a Baptist minister in Florida, and he wants his old job back as President of the National Baptist Convention of the USA.
But when Lyons was head of this national organisation of black churches, he robbed it of millions, according to this report.
Lyons’ downfall came in the late 1990s after his then wife Deborah set fire to a $700,000 waterfront home he co-owned with a mistress.
The resulting investigation exposed him as a crook who filched $4-million from the convention. He used the money to buy the things no man of the cloth should be without – luxury homes, jewellery, and several mistresses.
Lyons was convicted of racketeering and grand theft in 1999. He resigned as President of the NBC and pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, fraud and making false statements – and he was given a prison sentence.
Lyons currently serves as pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, and is running for his old post against one other candidate, the Rev Julius R Scruggs, pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church, in Huntsville, Alabama, who also serves as Vice President at large for the convention. The election takes place in September.
Aldon Morris, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University, who’s written extensively about the convention, says Lyons faces an uphill battle and he doesn’t expect him to win.
I think there’s significant numbers of leaders in the group across the county who feel it’s fine to forgive, but why have a leader with this sort of baggage. The organisation was very embarrassed by the charges against him. He certainly left it in bad shape.
Lyons told The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville that while he damaged the convention’s reputation, he’s a changed man who deserves a second chance as President.
The shame of it I don’t believe it will ever go away. There’s nothing I can do about it.
Scruggs, who hopes to increase church participation in convention activities if elected, declined to say much about Lyons’ candidacy.
I prefer building on the present and the future and being as positive as possible and really don’t want to go back to that era and talk about those negatives.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
March 29th, 2009 at 10:01 am
It says a lot about the congregation if they even consider him… Surely, they can’t be that gullable…?
I know, ‘Don’t call me shirley’
March 29th, 2009 at 10:03 am
“…pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, fraud and making false statements…”
Hang on. Isn’t that what religions are supposed to do?
March 29th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
If it’s a crime for preachers to make false statements, then we’ll just have to arrest them all!
March 29th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I think he is in with a chance of a return. Others have got back who are just as bad. The formula is this:
a. He was misled by the Devil and was unable to escape from the thrall of evil – the number 666 is sometimes mentioned – until he found Jesus.
2. Forgiveness is in the hand of the Lord etc. etc. etc and he has truly repented.
3. He weeps as he repents, blames it all on the Devil and puts on a performance that would get him an Oscar in a film.
4. Then he asks for more money as he intends to leave to do missionary work. No 4 is optional.
March 29th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Broga.
5. And, of course, his wife and mistresses are standing by him.
March 29th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
remigius.
Sorry. That is essential. Don’t know how I missed it.
PS At first glance I thought he was Robert Mugabe. Didn’t he begin with some heavy missionary indoctrination.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I am suddenly reminded of a quote from One Foot in the Grave (refering to an election result) about hiring a man-eating shark as your child’s swimming instructor.
“Yes I know it bit my baby’s head off last time but I still think it deserves another chance!”
Between this and Ted Haggard’s attempts to get back in the pulpit, it underscores the physical need these men have for an audience whose attention and rapture they can bathe in. At this rate it could soon be time for a ‘Take Me Back’ groveller’s roll-call of shame.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Everyone here has started to express what I was thinking as I read the article. There is a pretty good chance that the sheep are gullible enough so it must be worth a shot. My all time favorite penitent was Jimmy Swaggart.
March 29th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Gee, if gawd forgave him who are puny humans to deny him what he wants?
March 30th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Hell, if they want him back, let them have him. They really will be doing a great service to Christian gullibility.