Larry Lyon has been elected president of Truett McConnell University to succeed Emir Caner, who was fired by trustees last year amid allegations of mishandling reports of sexual abuse.
Lyon currently serves as senior vice president for business administration at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a Southern Baptist Convention school. Truett McConnell, located in North Georgia, is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention.
Larry Lyon
Lyon is a Georgia native who earned a bachelor of science degree in Christian ministry from Shorter University in Rome, Ga., and both a master of divinity degree and a Ph.D. in theological studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His doctoral research focused on the public theology of Francis Schaeffer.
At New Orleans Seminary, he also teaches courses in Christian ethics, theology of sexuality and gender, and current ethical issues.
Before his current role, Lyon served as vice president for enrollment at New Orleans Seminary and director of enrollment at Southeastern Seminary.
He is married to Stephanie, who serves as director of missions and ministry to women at First Baptist Church of New Orleans.
Last week, 10 university trustees published an opinion piece in an online journal offering their minority report on why they did not vote for Caner’s dismissal last year. The vote to hire Lyon was unanimous.