DANIA BEACH, Fla. — The former head of a national organization of black Baptist churches, who spent four years in prison for stealing millions of dollars from the group, lost his bid Wednesday to lead the group's Florida chapter.
The Rev. Henry Lyons, 65, was wildly popular before his conviction and is still highly regarded by many church members, but his support apparently was not enough to fend off the Rev. James Sampson of Jacksonville, who was announced the new head of the Florida General Baptist Convention.
The group is a chapter of the National Baptist Convention USA, which says it represents about 7.5 million members of black churches nationwide.
"He's a young man, he's a visionary, he has proven that he can get things done," said the Rev. G.L. Sims Sr., pastor of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Jacksonville and one of Sampson's supporters. On Lyons, Sims was more blunt: "He had his chance and he blew it."
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The Rev. Michael Johnson of Pensacola also unsuccessfully sought the presidency.
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, and the Lyonses have divorced.
Lyons was released from prison in 2003 and is still on probation but is pastor at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa.
Though a majority of an estimated 1,230 delegates permitted to vote Wednesday chose Sampson, even many of the winner's supporters said they could have overlooked Lyons' past. Many said they simply felt Sampson was a better choice.
"It was not that I was voting against him," said the Rev. W.M. Ramsey, pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale. "But Sampson, he's a good businessman, a good individual, he's the go-getter."
Even Lyons' supporters acknowledged he had a tough battle. Larry Hardaway, an attorney who befriended the pastor while he was behind bars, said that he has seen him move large crowds and teach the Bible like no one else, but that many questioned him again assuming a leadership role.
"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."