Published: October 17, 2009 12:30 am      

Baptists’ ex-president sues over election

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The former president of the National Baptist Convention USA has sued the denomination over an election he overwhelmingly lost.

Delegates to the convention, the nation's largest and oldest predominantly black denomination, last month chose the Rev. Julius R. Scruggs over the Rev. Henry Lyons. He lost to Scruggs on a vote of 4,108 to 924.

In a lawsuit filed Oct. 16 in Washington, D.C., Lyons alleges fraud and improper vote-counting in the election that decided the new leader of some 7.5 million worshippers.

He contends "many violations of established procedures occurred in the voting process destroying the integrity of the ... election," according to the lawsuit.

For instance, Lyons said that under convention regulations eligible voters had to register by a certain time or they wouldn't be allowed to vote. However, he contends in the lawsuit that people who registered after the deadline were still allowed to vote in the election.

Lyons, currently pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa, Fla., which is a plaintiff in the lawsuit, wants the court to declare the election "null and void." He also claims that he won most of the vote and is requesting the court reverse the final result totals, "making Henry J. Lyons the winner."

Officials with the Nashville-based denomination did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

However, Robert Parham, founder of the Baptist Center for Ethics and its Web site about religion called EthicsDaily.com, called the latest action frivolous.

"Henry Lyons' second lawsuit against the National Baptist Convention appears to be an unnecessary action that taints Dr. Julius Scruggs' overwhelming election and detracts from his task as the new convention president," said Parham, who is not affiliated with the denomination. "NBC members deserve better from a former president."

Lyons, who was forced out as the group's president in 1999 after an investigation revealed he abused his power and stole about $4 million, had sued in the same court to try to stop the election.

Lyons' downfall came after his wife, Deborah, set fire to a $700,000 waterfront home he co-owned with a mistress, and the resulting investigation revealed he'd stolen money from the organization. The couple has since divorced.

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