Henry Lyons facts for kids

Henry J. Lyons (born in 1942) is a former leader of a large church organization in the United States. He was the president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., which is one of the biggest African-American Christian groups. During his time as president, he faced serious accusations about how money was managed within the organization.

Early Life and Education

Henry J. Lyons was raised by his grandfather, Booker T. Lyons, who was a church leader. His father was very young when Henry was born and was not a big part of his childhood.

Lyons went to Gibbs Junior College in St. Petersburg, Florida, from 1960 to 1962. He then studied at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach from 1962 to 1964. After that, he continued his studies at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.

In 1970, he moved to Cincinnati, and by 1972, he took on a more important role in St. Petersburg, Florida. He married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s.

Rise in Church Leadership

Henry J. Lyons became a significant figure in the Baptist church community. In 1977, he was chosen as the Vice President of the Florida General Baptist Convention. He then served as its President from 1981 to 1994.

In 1994, Lyons reached a major leadership position when he became the President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. This was a very important role, leading a large number of churches and their members across the country.

Leading the National Baptist Convention

As president, Henry J. Lyons was known for being a very engaging speaker. He introduced new programs, like a "Unified Program," to help the organization work better. He also successfully reduced the money owed by the Baptist World Center and the Sunday School Publishing Board, which helped the convention financially. Many new groups and committees were added to the convention during his leadership.

He aimed to improve the organization and address challenges that had come up before his time. However, his presidency later faced its own set of difficulties.

Challenges and Later Career

In 1999, Henry J. Lyons was sentenced to time in jail. This was because he had used money from the National Baptist Convention for purposes that were not allowed while he was its president. He had already resigned from his position as president before this.

In November 2003, he was released and returned to preaching in St. Petersburg. He currently serves as the pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida.

In 2007, Lyons tried to be re-elected as President of the Florida General Baptist Convention but was not successful. After this, he and his supporters started a new group called the General Baptist State Convention of Florida, where he became the President. In 2009, he also ran for president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, again but was not elected.

On June 15, 2017, Lyons was asked to step down from his position at the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church by its board of trustees. This decision came after accusations of improper conduct.