PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The National Baptist Convention, the nation's largest black denomination, has voted to change its constitution to reduce the power of its president, 2 years after its last leader went to prison for stealing millions.
The Rev. Wendell L. Griffen, who headed the revision committee, said the changes had been in the works long before the past president's problems and are unrelated.
The denomination, which is holding a conference in Philadelphia this week, voted Tuesday to decrease the number of board members appointed by its president.
The convention has about 110 board members, who recommend any policy changes to the rest of the body. Under the change, the president will select four, instead of 29. Also, five regional Baptist groups will select five board members each.
The overhaul was backed by the Rev. William Shaw, the denomination's president. Shaw and others agreed that the old leadership structure gave too much power to the president, Griffen said.
Former convention president Henry J. Lyons was convicted in 1999 of improperly taking $4 million from companies and organizations doing business with the convention. He is serving a 5-year prison term.
Shaw, pastor of White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia, was elected president in 1999 on a platform of integrity and accountability.
The denomination has millions of members, but the exact number is a matter of dispute, and the organization said it is working on an official count that will not be ready until January.