Philadelphia Minister to Head Baptist Group : Worship: The Rev. William Shaw is elected to replace clergyman who was imprisoned for stealing $4 million.

A Philadelphia minister who promised to reform the leadership of the nation’s largest black church group was elected president of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. on Thursday night.

The Rev. William Shaw beat 10 other candidates to succeed the Rev. Henry J. Lyons, the minister imprisoned for using the powerful position to bilk and steal more than $4 million from companies and organizations so he could live in luxury.

In the wake of that scandal, Shaw called for the next president to share his power with a cabinet and a restructured board of directors, which he said would result in more financial accountability.

“It is a point of beginning for us,” Shaw said after the vote was announced. “I would ask now that we go home and vow in prayer that God would give the direction that we ought to take from this point on.”

Shaw received 3,694 votes. The Rev. W. Franklyn Richardson was a close second with 3,451 votes.

Shaw, 65, has been pastor of White Rock Baptist Church for 43 years.

He has said the convention’s problems stem from “a lack of accountability and a failure to center the convention around Christ.”

“I believe the power of the presidency is multiplied when it is shared,” he said earlier this week during a forum where he introduced the members of his cabinet.

Shaw, who placed third to Lyons in 1994, was among a group of ministers who unsuccessfully attempted to oust him in 1997 when Lyons came under federal and state investigation.

Lyons, 57, resigned after he was convicted in February of swindling $4 million from businesses and keeping nearly $250,000 contributed by the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith to rebuild burned black churches in the South.

In the wake of the scandal, Shaw and other candidates said the president’s powers, including control over the group’s checkbook, should be reduced. Several board members are appointed by the president.

Lyons, who was paid $100,000 as president, is serving 5 1/2 years in prison.

The convention, which traces its roots to 1880, claims 8.5 million members, though at Lyons’ trial prosecutors said the figure was inflated to attract businesses. They said membership is around 1 million.

The Rev. Angelique Walker-Smith, a New York City minister who voted for Richardson, said Shaw will help bring the convention closer together.

“Dr. Shaw is an honorable, loving, Christian gentleman and I think the convention will be blessed,” she said.