Ottawa Herald in Ottawa, Kansas

Activist to lead Baptists in National Convention

The Rev. Henry J. Lyons was elected president of the National Baptist Convention U S A Inc for a five year term. Lyons, 52, head of Bethel Metropolitan Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, won 3 545 votes in a five man race. He previously headed Jesse Jacksons 1984 and 1988 campaigns in Florida and vowed the black church would be a force in Washington.