Henry Lyons Sues National Baptists

Ethics Daily has just posted a story about Henry Lyons suing to stop the National Baptist Convention (NBC) from holding an election for the President of that convention.

Lyons served as President of NBC from 1994 until 1999 -- when he was imprisoned for four years for fraud and tax evasion. Now he is running for President of the NBC again, but he appears to think that he will not be elected under the by-laws for the election.

I'm not a member of the National Baptist Convention, so some people might suggest that I don't have a dog in this hunt. I comment because I am a Baptist who is very interested in the work of the whole Baptist family. I comment because Lyons' challenge to the by-laws casts a shadow over the competency and effectiveness of outgoing President Dr. William Shaw's tenure in office. I comment because I heard Dr. Shaw's powerful and prophetic sermon at the New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta last year. I comment because I also had opportunity to observe Dr. Shaw as preparations were being made for that New Baptist Covenant meeting. I know Dr. Shaw to be a man of credibility and integrity. It grieves me to see the good work that he has done for all Baptists undermined and called into question.

Lyons needs to reconsider this misguided law suit. Precedents involving the First Amendment assure that the courts will want to steer clear from intervening on matters involving the internal governance of religious institutions. Lyons' contention that the National Baptist Convention "is not a religious body for the purposes of First Amendment immunity analysis" is hopelessly mistaken.

Henry, for the good of the Convention, please put an end to this law suit. It will do nothing to advance the work of the kingdom of God and much to retard it.