1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

News: Rev. Billy Graham In Frail Health

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by eaglewings, Oct 16, 2002.

  1. eaglewings

    eaglewings Guest

    Judge not that you be not judged?

    Did you know that last week the Southern Baptist Press reported on the results of a comprehensive "U.S. Congregational Life Survey" conducted last year?

    The survey found that in many ways Southern Baptist worshipers are similar to those in other congregations. They are predominantly female (60 percent), married (70 percent), with kids (44 percent), averaging 49 years of age (based on a minimum survey age of 15). Incomes also are similar, although Southern Baptists have fewer worshipers with an annual income of $100,000 or more (11 percent versus 15 percent). Southern Baptists also have a lower percentage of college graduates (30 percent to 41 percent).

    Southern Baptist congregations, like congregations of most religious groups, tend to be small

    Who wants to be a part of a group that is made up of mostly uneducated married elderly females? Definitely not the young people! Didn’t apostle Paul state in 2 Timothy 2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 2:12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

    Obviously what the evangelicals have or don't have is not working and folks don't want garbage. They want the real thing!
     
  2. eaglewings

    eaglewings Guest

    quote:
    --------------------------------------------------
    Billy Graham doesn't work 100 % of the time and isn't entitled to a 100 % salary.
    --------------------------------------------------

    His Board of Trustees says differently and it's their call to make, not yours.
    _______________________________________________

    That is a bunch of crap and will not stand up in a court of law! This argument didn't work with Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer in the case of lying Lyons, whose hand picked board approved and forgave whatever he did with the money that was giving to the National Baptist Convention.

    Despite weeks of media reports outlining Lyons' transgressions, including keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars for working business deals with outside corporations, the National Baptist Convention USA Inc.'s board of directors gave Lyons a thumbs up to continue in office.

    The board in a standing vote decided to drop the matter of Lyons' inquiry into Lyons' reported misdealings.

    The Rev. E.V. Hill of Los Angeles, chairman of the ethics commission put in place to investigate Lyons stated ``Dr. Lyons has broken no laws,'' ``Where there is no law, there is no transgression,''

    But in 1999, in Tampa, Florida, one of the most influential black religious leaders in the United States, overseeing one of the largest church organizations of African-Americans, the Rev. Henry J. Lyons was sent to prison to serve a 51/2-year sentence for racketeering and grand theft.

    Lyons leadership of the nation's largest black church organization dissolved in financial scandal, after his wife set his downfall in motion by torching a home he had purchased with another woman.

    Later Lyons filled for divorce from Deborah Lyons stating that his 28-year marriage was irretrievably broken. He claimed no assets and $7.8 million in debts, including restitution payments.

    Lyons was convicted in February 1999 of swindling more than $4 million from companies that wanted to market life insurance, credit cards and cemetery plots to his convention members. Prosecutors said Lyons padded the convention's mailing list with names randomly selected from phone books across the country. Even a grand dragon of the Ku Klux Klan was on the list. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of tax evasion, fraudulent activities and lying to officials

    In his sentencing, Judge Schaeffer had ordered Lyons to pay $2.5 million in restitution to the companies who bought his phony mailing lists and to pay $97,000 for the cost of the state probe into his dealings.

    Lyons is now serving a five and a half year prison sentence. His bid for a shorter prison term gets nowhere with a trial judge fed up with his crimes. A judge flatly denied the Rev. Henry Lyons' bid to reduce his state prison term rejecting pleas that the religious leader is suffering physically and mentally from incarceration.

    Lyons, who has tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis, ``can be treated in prison,'' Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer told about a dozen of his supporters. ``Prison is a place that brings on illnesses, a place where you are going to be among murderers, thugs and thieves,'' the judge said. ``There isn't anything about it that's supposed to be fun.'' Schaeffer did not mince words during an almost half-hour long oral ruling from the bench.

    Lying Lyons was not a novice although he definitely broke most of the rules concerning the position of a bishop outlined in the word of God. Dr. Henry J. Lyons was also President Emeritus of the Florida General Baptist Convention, Inc., and President of Ecumenical Counselor Community Concern, Inc. He also lectured at Colleges & Universities and was involved in National Prominence in Civic & Community Affairs Black History & Human Relations.

    Dr. Lyons was born January 17, 1942. He accepted Christ in 1950 and was called to the Ministry in 1961. He and his wife, Deborah, reside in St. Petersburg. Earlier, Dr. Lyons served as an academic dean at Cincinnati Baptist College and in two pastorates at Baptist churches in Georgia.

    Dr. Lyons resume was that of a very prominent educated Evangelical with extensive ministry and educational background and many doctorate degrees. For Dr. Lyons has traveled and preached extensively abroad (17 Nations) under the auspices of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA. In addition, his travels have included Bible study in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and theology study at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has conducted Evangelistic Crusades in the Bahamas and Taiwan. He has traveled and preached in Brazil, Rome, Italy, London, England, Paris, France and Spain.

    At the annual meeting of the National Baptist Convention in 1998, the Rev. Henry Lyons of St. Petersburg, former President of the National Baptist Convention and personal friend of President Bill Clinton, admitted to an ``inappropriate relationship'' - an increasingly popular euphemism for adultery - with a woman employed by the nation's largest black church group. He said he was sorry and asked for forgiveness and they forgave him. Lyons was once a personal friend of Baptist Bill Clinton.

    [ October 16, 2002, 12:48 PM: Message edited by: eaglewings ]
     
  3. C.S. Murphy

    C.S. Murphy New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2002
    Messages:
    2,302
    Likes Received:
    0
    I would strongly suggest that everyone keep a cool head about this issue. I feel this is almost out of hand but I will wait and let Squire put a three page limit if he chooses to do so. In the meanwhile let's remember that the Bible teaches a soft answer turneth away wrath. Sometimes no answer at all is best. ;)
    Murph
     
  4. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    10,756
    Likes Received:
    795
    Faith:
    Baptist
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    21,321
    Likes Received:
    0
    I looked up the words "witchhunt" nad "McCarthhyism" in the dictionary and it said "see 'eaglewings'".
     
  6. eaglewings

    eaglewings Guest

    Since when is questioning the salary of Billy Graham a withchunt?
     
  7. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    Probably at about the same time lying and distorting facts became Christ-like.
    Gina
     
  8. eaglewings

    eaglewings Guest

    Distortion of what facts?

    - ‘Billy Graham doesn't work 100 % of the time and isn't entitled to a 100 % salary.”

    - 2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.
    2:12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
    2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
    2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
    2:15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. 2 Timothy
     
  9. All about Grace

    All about Grace New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2002
    Messages:
    1,680
    Likes Received:
    0
    hummingbirdwings:

    Bottom Line: When you are in charge of the BGEA, you can pay Billy whatever amount you chose. Until that time, return to your box.

    The real saga in this story is the fact BG ONLY makes around 200k a year. I am sure he could make a lot more if he chose to do so. As has been pointed out, even the harshest of Graham's critics have difficulty attacking the man's integrity and character. The fact you do so places you outside the realm of credibility. :rolleyes:
     
  10. eaglewings

    eaglewings Guest

    SBC See above posting which states
    That is a bunch of crap and will not stand up in a court of law! This argument didn't work with Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Susan Schaeffer in the case of lying Lyons, whose hand picked board approved and forgave whatever he did with the money that was given to the National Baptist Convention.

    [ October 16, 2002, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: eaglewings ]
     
  11. C.S. Murphy

    C.S. Murphy New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2002
    Messages:
    2,302
    Likes Received:
    0
    I believe Squire is right three pages of this is plenty. When we get there let's close the door.
    Murph
     
Loading...