It is with jaw dropping disbelief and heavy-hearted grief that I write of the devastation and shame that has come to my family in the past year.
First, my brother, Charles W. Lyons, who has been documented in my previous posts as being complicit in my father‘s negligence of my mother, lost his position as the long-time pastor at Armitage Baptist, Chicago. I believe, in his pride he thought he was ignoring his little brother’s overblown sensitivities, but I know I was speaking under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. So, he was not merely ignoring me, but the Righteous One, the Vindicator of the oppressed. I pray he will see the connection of his disregard for my admonition and his having to step down. But, to date there has still been no response to my appeals.
Next, my brother Sam Lyons, who was an associate pastor at Ashburn Baptist along side my father, was engaging in the sin of clergy sexual abuse, that is, using his position of trust to take advantage of a woman who sought counsel. After he was confronted, he resigned and is no longer in the ministry. He had refused to sit down and discuss my father’s negligence with me, then went on to defend and cover for my dad when the deacons made inquiry into the matter. To me, the discovery of Sam’s disqualifying sexual sin is connected to his defense of my father’s sin.
Lastly, my unrepentant father Vernon C. Lyons, who has always said he would never retire, was forced by the new administrative pastor and board of deacons to give up his position as pastor after 69 years. Coincidentally, his eviction date was 5 years to the day that my mother died due to his negligence.
FROM ASHBURN BAPTIST WEBSITE:
March 4, 2020
Dear Ashburn family,
The Deacons of Ashburn Baptist Church have worked diligently to prayerfully present for your approval a budget for the upcoming 2020-2021 church fiscal year. This budget includes many exciting ministry opportunities that the Lord has allowed for our church, such as: adding an Arabic ministry to reach the thousands of Arab people in the Orland Park area; adding a worship minister to lead our music department; and, a new minister to lead the Chicago church (with the retirement of Jack Strickland).
The new year and budget includes many staffing decisions – not only seeking to fill the worship leader and Chicago English minister positions, but also transitioning Pastor Vernon Lyons from Associate Pastor to Pastor Emeritus – an honorary, non-salaried position that frees him from daily ministry responsibilities while still retaining the title of Pastor and all the honor that he deserves.
Pastor Lyons has served faithfully and tirelessly for almost 7 decades, and is due the greatest of admiration and thanks from the Ashburn family. This transition of his position is in no way meant to diminish his accomplishments or to disrespect his dedicated life-long efforts given to the church. It is a necessary transition for which the church has been preparing by paying into a retirement fund for Pastor Lyons for many, many years. In his new role Pastor Lyons will continue to receive a monthly allotment for health care and mileage reimbursement, and will still teach his Bible class and lead the Ashburn Baptist Bible Institute.
We want to thank the many members of the Ashburn Baptist family who have sent encouragement our way, and prayed for us during this arduous process. Please continue to pray for the church, the pastoral staff, and the deacons as we approach a new year which will see the Lord bless His church.
Your deacons,
Ed Brewer
Gil Martinez
John Marek
Randy Colley
Pete Maley
John Rudnick
*This statement was read publicly on multiple occasions at all of our church locations.
Note: This budget was rejected by the vote of the Church. And my father refused to accept the position of Pastor Emeritus.
FACEBOOK POST:
After serving 69 years, without notice, I was fired on March 24, 2020 and will be evicted from my study on April 4, 2020.
Vernon C. Lyons
See Church Constitution
Article VII Sec C #8
FROM ASHBURN BAPTIST WEBSITE:
Statement from the Deacons concerning the inaccurate social media post by Vernon Lyons on March 27, 2020
March 28,2020
Dear Ashburn family,
As has been shared with the church in multiple public meetings this month the decision was made to transition Pastor Vernon Lyons from Associate Pastor to the honorary role of Pastor Emeritus at the end of the current church year. (see Statement from the Deacons, March 4, 2020). Due to the current shelter-in-place mandate, which prohibits our church from holding in-person services and impacts pastoral care visits, coupled with his public statements of non-support for the manner in which Ashburn leadership is working to ensure the safety of people, the date of his transition was moved up to March 24, 2020 and Pastor Lyons was informed in a private staff meeting. At no time was Pastor Lyons fired from his position as Associate Pastor but transitioned to a new role as Pastor Emeritus. He was assured that all financial obligations of his current contract would be met, and as publicly shared with the church, the new role would include benefits including well-being compensation for life.
Sadly, on March 27, 2020 Pastor Vernon Lyons purposely posted an inaccurate statement on social media stating that he had been fired and evicted from his office. His decision to post this message immediately caused confusion, anger, harsh words, and division among the Ashburn family and many people outside the church — an inflammatory and damaging result he knew would happen, as was the case recently with a direct quote from him that was shared on social media, and also proved to be untrue. This posting, knowing it would undoubtedly cause hurt and strife among people, was a clear breach of pastoral protocol by Pastor Vernon Lyons and an inciting of division.
The Deacons of Ashburn Baptist on many occasions have asked Pastor Vernon Lyons to accept the new role of Pastor Emeritus graciously, and to continue to serve God’s people with honor. He has both privately and publicly, multiple times, stated his refusal to accept this role. Regrettably, the Deacons of Ashburn have no choice but to accept Pastor Lyons’ continued refusal to be Pastor Emeritus as a resignation.
Your deacons,
Ed Brewer
Gil Martinez
John Marek
Randy Colley
Pete Maley
John Rudnick
Three long-time pastors were forced out of the ministry in less than one year. Does this not bring a fear of God to others who have been drawn into aiding or covering my father‘s sins?