Pastors Decry Vote for Baptist Leader

Hours after members of the nation’s largest black Baptist church backed its besieged president in a surprise vote, 80 prominent pastors demanded that the Rev. Henry Lyons resign immediately or be expelled from office for allegedly mishandling church funds. As more than 150 supporters looked on from the steps of the Denver Convention Center, the pastors denounced the vote backing Lyons, which was taken after more than half of the convention’s delegates had left. The pastors called the timing of the vote an orchestrated effort by Lyons to bypass the membership and keep his job. Lyons has been accused of using church money to buy real estate, cars and jewelry for a female aide.