Rev. Julius R. Scruggs delivers his first address as president-elect of the National Baptist Convention at the Cook Convention Center. (Photo by Shirley Jackson)

Rev. Julius R. Scruggs of Huntsville, Ala., overwhelmingly was chosen as the next president of the National Baptist Convention during the group’s 129th Annual Convention held in Memphis Sept. 5-11. Rev. Scruggs turned back a high-profile challenge by former president, Rev. Henry Lyons, who was seeking to regain the presidency after having been convicted on charges associated with bilking the church’s corporate partners out of several million dollars.  

After turning back the challenge of Rev. Henry Lyons, former NBC president, Rev. Scruggs accepts congratulations on his election. (Photo by Earl Stanback)

Rev. Scruggs takes over as president in February. Here is an excerpt from his press conference following his election:

Q: What is going to be your main goal as the new president?”

A: One of our main goals is to strengthen our unification in our convention. We’ve had some splintering from time to time in our convention and we want to bring all groups together in oneness so that we can all gather under one main vision for our convention and move together …to bring that vision to fruition.

And of course to enlarge on that vision and would like to say the following: We would like to build on what (President) Dr. (William) Shaw  has already been doing in certain areas. And one of the first areas we would like to build on is to make American Baptist College a greater school. The premier bible college is owned by the national Baptist Convention USA, Inc., and we would like to give it greater support. We would like to help foster the vision of (Dr. Forrest Elliot Harris Sr.,) who is president of the college. One of the things he wants to do is build a student life center, including housing. . .

Q: Would you give us an idea of what you wanted to get out of the convention, the election aside? What did you want the people to get? Do you think they got it? And how would you measure that?

A: It’s hard to measure the vision and perspective at this early stage. I’ve only addressed the convention today as president-elect. Last night, I simply thanked them for their votes and their confidence and their trust in me. Today I gave some perspective. I really have no way of measuring how they received those perspectives because a bodily response does not really tell you much in terms of how they are going to support tangibly your vision, your ideas and your perspective. It’ll probably be a year or so before we can really measure how they are embracing our administration and our vision.

Q: Does your vision and your philosophy for being president involve using the strength of the church in any way to get involved with issues such as health care reform?

A: Oh yes. I did not give all of the perspectives this morning that I wanted to give and one is exactly an area of which you speak. I want to form a public policy committee that will address healthcare issues and other socioeconomic and political issues. Dr. Shaw already has been invited by President Obama to be a part of the faith-based initiative group. As the next president I will also be a part of that group after Dr. Shaw’s term.

We definitely want to help the President. We want to be an advocate for him particularly in light of the way things are going right now. The Republicans are beating up on the President…. He needs the help of all of  us, particularly our help as leaders and pastors, to be advocates for him and help influence the (healthcare) legislation.

Q: That need being as you stated, can you see the National Baptist Convention hooking up with other groups in way that they perhaps have not before?

A: Yes, but I also say that in the past there was a national black church movement made up of various African-American denominations. That probably needs to be reactivated, if it is not activated at this point. If it is active, it is active in a very low-key way and we need to activate it so that we leverage all the power that we can for the good of all the people, particularly the underprivileged and disenfranchised people. And we are part of those as you know.

Q: You mentioned that the National Baptist Convention has been splintered in the past. Rev. Lyons has said he wants to possibly challenge the vote and it seems as though that could create some more divisiveness. Does that concern you?

A: When I saw the convention take a unanimous vote against what he was proposing, that says a lot about where the convention stands on its positive thrust for the future. We don’t want to go backwards and get into divisive relationships…. We want to move forward with unity and strength.

Q: Would you speak to the reception you have gotten here in Memphis?

A: The reception in Memphis has been overwhelming. It’s been amazing how various people have come up to me and embraced me and said to me “I am with you 100 percent.” The outpouring of concern and love and congratulations have been overwhelming.