Baptists to Convene Amid Controversy
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When the nation’s largest predominantly African American Baptist denomination gathers in Denver on Sept. 1 for its annual convention, delegates will meet under a cloud of controversy involving the denomination’s president.
The Rev. Henry J. Lyons, president of the 8.5-million-member National Baptist Convention USA, has been accused of buying a $700,000 home in St. Petersburg, Fla., with a woman who once worked as the church’s public relations director. Lyons’ wife was accused of setting fire to the home after learning that he owned it with another woman.
The St. Petersburg Times recently reported that Lyons used church money as part of a down payment on the waterfront home.
Lyons has said no church money was used to secure the loan on the house.
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