Convicted Pastor Seeks Leadership Post

Post by **_Derek** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:37 pm

Convicted Pastor Seeks Leadership Post
Wednesday, April 4, 2007 9:37 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By MATT SEDENSKY

MIAMI (AP) — The former head of a national organization of black Baptist churches spent four years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from the group. Now he wants one of his old jobs back: leader of the organization's Florida chapter.

The Rev. Henry Lyons, 65, was wildly popular before his conviction and is still highly regarded by many church members. He was vying with two other ministers Wednesday to lead the Florida General Baptist Convention, a chapter of the National Baptist Convention USA, which claims to represent some 7.5 million members of black churches nationwide.

Representatives of member churches were voting through Wednesday evening in Fort Lauderdale, but it was unclear when a winner would be announced. Calls to the national and state conventions and to many member churches and pastors went unreturned Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lyons, who was released from prison in 2003, was competing with the Rev. James Sampson of Jacksonville and the Rev. Michael Johnson of Pensacola.

Lyons rose to power with a blend of charisma, fiery preaching and political skills. He led the Florida and national conventions and St. Petersburg's Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church.

While the minister was on a 1997 trip to Africa, his wife, Deborah Lyons, discovered he had purchased a $700,000 waterfront home with a mistress, Bernice Edwards, a convicted embezzler who worked as public relations director for the national convention. Deborah Lyons set the home on fire.

The resulting investigation unmasked Henry Lyons' use of his leadership role to access millions of dollars to finance his lavish lifestyle. Officials estimated the minister took about $4 million to buy luxury homes and jewelry and support his mistresses.

Lyons was convicted of racketeering and grand theft in 1999. He resigned as president of the National Baptist Convention and pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, fraud and making false statements.

Edwards later died in prison.

Lyons, now divorced, is still on probation but is pastor at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa.

Larry Hardaway, an attorney who befriended Lyons while he was in prison, said he has seen the pastor do great good.

"I have seen him uplift people who have had problems and are down, who are spiritually down in their lives. I have seen him move large crowds in churches and other spiritual gatherings. I have seen him relate teachings from the Bible in a way I have never heard before," Hardaway said.

The lawyer said his friend shows potential to perform well again in an administrative role, but he understands questions about his suitability.

"There's always been a question as to whether he should embark back into that old track," Hardaway said. "And it is a concern of many people — those who care about him and those who do not."

<b>You can read the story on its original page HERE </b>

How strange that this fellow is now a pastor again. I understand forgivness. But he should obviously never be in any kind of leadership role again.

Perhaps this church doesn't have bibles with Titus or Timothy in them? Yeesh!

Post by **_Michelle** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 10:01 pm

Hi Derek,

I know that this is very a tragic and serious story, and that this kind of stuff helps to make Christians look really stupid, but...

While the minister was on a 1997 trip to Africa, his wife, Deborah Lyons, discovered he had purchased a $700,000 waterfront home with a mistress, Bernice Edwards, a convicted embezzler who worked as public relations director for the national convention. Deborah Lyons set the home on fire.

...this paragraph cracked me up. A little bit only; then I repented. Sorry

Post by **_Allyn** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:48 am

His actions are now between him and God, but he should never be in a leadership position again. Shame to the church who has him on staff. In my opinion there are simply no ifs, ands, or buts.

Post by **_Paidion** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:58 am

The whole question turns on whether or not there was a genuine repentance on Lyons's part, or whether he is simply seeking to rip off the Baptists again.

If no one were appointed as a church leader because of sin in his past, there would be few church leaders (or perhaps none)

Yes, the magnitude of Lyons's sin was great, but if he truly repented, and God forgave and delivered him, then who are we to hold his past against him? True, we may suspect that he has not really repented and been delivered, and refuse him on the ground of that suspicion. That is justifiable. But those who are considering him should not do so because of his charisma or ability to "uplift people who have problems", but because he may have been completely delivered from his past. If an investigation seems to point toward the latter, then perhaps he should be hired on probation so that he might prove that his repentance and deliverance is genuine.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. I Cor 6:9-11 NKJV
(Bolding for emphasis is mine)

Post by **_Allyn** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:15 pm

This is just a quick not, and I don't have the passage but Paul too had an issue concerning leadership responsibilities with a certain fellow and would not allow him to take up the role.

In this day we live it is far too important to trust our instincts on the heart of people. We can hope and pray they have repented and we should never disfellowship with the repentant person but to allow a person to resume where they once were when it comes to church leadership and shepherding - well this is far to important to allow.

My 2 cents

Post by **_Derek** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:44 pm

1Ti 3:2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
1Ti 3:3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
1Ti 3:4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
1Ti 3:5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
1Ti 3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
1Ti 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

It would seem that the reputation of Jesus (His body at any rate) is at stake in the appointment of leadership.

I am not saying he shouldn't be forgiven or that he should be disfellowshipped. Perhaps with time (a lot of it) he could be restored to leadership, (and that's a big maybe I would need to research), but to put him back in a place of leadership fresh out of jail for such dispicable act is nuts to me.

I am not sure how a person that has shown himself unsuited for leadership in the way he did could ever be trusted with that kind of role again.

Post by **_Allyn** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:26 am

God forgives, and we are thankful for that. But sometimes the consequences of our sin stays with us all the days of our life.

Post by **_schoel** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:53 am

Lyons, who was released from prison in 2003, was competing with the Rev. James Sampson of Jacksonville and the Rev. Michael Johnson of Pensacola.

Competing!!!!?????

This is what is wrong with many in "Christian" leadership today. Many are vying to be in charge and run the show, as if it is a political office. Then we are shocked when embezzlement, adultery, etc is revealed in those same leaders but we aren't concerned about pride and greed. Hmmmm...

What happened to being the servant of all?
I would echo the advice of Jesus to those Christians seeking "office" in an institution (paraphrased, of course):
Seek rather to be the servant of all. Pursue and compete for obscurity and the unnoticed acts of the Kingdom of God. If the spotlight shines your way, humbly acknowledge God, and continue seeking to serve those who cannot repay you. Then you will truly be like your Father in heaven.

MichelleM wrote:
While the minister was on a 1997 trip to Africa, his wife, Deborah Lyons, discovered he had purchased a $700,000 waterfront home with a mistress, Bernice Edwards, a convicted embezzler who worked as public relations director for the national convention. Deborah Lyons set the home on fire.
...this paragraph cracked me up. A little bit only; then I repented. Sorry

This also cracked me up a bit as well.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned - William Shakespeare

Dave

Post by **_Derek** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:31 pm

Competing!!!!?????

Thought that was a bit strange as well.

Post by **_Sean** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:53 am

While I hate to put it this way, I think the people who know about this man and still want him to be "their" pastor like him for reasons other than Christian reasons. In other words, he appeals to their carnality. I wonder if his congregation are as forgiving of each other and their own spouses when they sin like this? Plus, It makes you feel better about your own sin when your "shepherd" has committed multiple sins while "working for God".

Derek was right on. How can you re-integrate someone into that position when they have proven they can't be trusted in that capacity. If you don't put someone in that position who can't manage their own household, then why would you put someone in that position who can't manage that position?

Sure, he can repent and be forgiven. But that doesn't mean you get to keep your position. Repentance doesn't promise that. David repented and was forgiven, but that didn't lift the bloodshed that fell upon the house of David. What about Moses, he messed up "once" and couldn't enter the promised land. He was forgiven, but his sin carried an irrevocable consequence.