Henry J. Lyons (March 5, 1942 – October 27, 2025) was an American Protestant pastor and president of theNational Baptist Convention, USA from 1994 to 1999. He was indicted by federal prosecutors in 1998 for fraud, extortion, money laundering, conspiracy, and tax evasion.
Lyons was raised by his grandfather, adeacon named Booker T. Lyons. His own father, who was only 16 when Henry was born, played a minimal role in his childhood. He attendedGibbs Junior College inSt. Petersburg, Florida (1960–62), and studied atBethune-Cookman College inDaytona Beach (1962–64). He then entered theInterdenominational Theological Center inAtlanta.[1]
In 1970, he moved toCincinnati. In 1972 he gained a more important position inSt. Petersburg, Florida.
He married Deborah Lyons in the 1970s.
In 1977 he became Vice President of the Florida General Baptist Convention, and was then its President from 1981 to 1994.[2] In 1994, Lyons became President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.
Always a charismatic speaker, Lyons' tenure featured much activity. He established a Unified Program, reduced the debt on the Baptist World Center, and dissolved the debt on the Sunday School Publishing Board. In addition, many commissions were added to the convention. He pledged to "raise a standard" and overcome the difficulties caused by his predecessorT. J. Jemison's support ofMike Tyson in his rape case.[3] However, in many respects he would exacerbate, rather than diminish, the difficulties of the organization.
In February 1998 he was charged with one count ofracketeering and two counts ofgrand theft,[4] and in summer 1998 he was indicted by federal prosecutors forfraud,extortion,money laundering,conspiracy andtax evasion.[5][6][7][8][9] He initially protested his innocence and claimed there was a racial motivation for the charges,[8] but the proceedings of his trial and his eventualplea bargaining agreement dampened the enthusiasm of those who maintained his innocence.[10] In 1999 Lyons was sentenced to a total of five and a half years in jail for misappropriating more than $4 million from the NBC while he was its President,[11] a post from which he had already resigned.[7][12] In November 2003, he was released onprobation and returned to preaching in St Petersburg.[13] He then became pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church inTampa, Florida.
On June 15, 2017, Lyons was forced out of his position by the board of trustees, amid accusations of theft and misconduct.[14]
In April 2007 Lyons was defeated in an attempt to be re-elected President of the Florida General Baptist Convention.[15] Subsequently, he and his supporters organized the General Baptist State Convention of Florida,[16] of which he was the President. In 2009, he was defeated in his bid for presidency of the National Baptist Convention, USA.[17]
Lyons died inTampa, FL on October 27, 2025, at the age of 83.[18]