(Washington, DC) — The election for president of the National Baptist Convention took place yesterday Tennessee. Disgraced former convention president Reverend Henry J. Lyons lost his bid for the presidency after first losing an attempt earlier this week to stop the election altogether. Lyons lost the election to Reverend Julius R. Scruggs of Alabama, who will now preside over what is believed to be the largest African-American religious group in the United States. Prior to his loss, Lyons had filed a lawsuit in a Washington, DC court accusing the convention of breech of contract because its new election bylaws allegedly violated the National Baptist Convention’s constitution. Judge Jeanette Clark rejected those claims on Wednesday and denied Lyons’ motion for a temporary restraining order.
Lyons served as president of the National Baptist Convention for several years until he was accused of misappropriating more than four-million dollars in convention funds in 1998. He resigned and ended up serving time after being convicted on state racketeering and grand theft charges, and pleading guilty to federal fraud and tax evasion charges.
Courtesy Metro Networks
