The forgeries, four in all, have emerged as a focal point of the grand jury, which last year began investigating the Baptist leader's handling of convention finances. State prosecutors are completing a separate investigation into Lyons' activities. In all, four documents carry the signature of convention general secretary Roscoe Cooper, though Cooper says he never signed them.
Federal law makes it a crime to knowingly give a false document to a federal agency.
Falsifying a document to obtain a bank loan also can be a crime under state and federal laws. The Rev. Richard P. Bifford, the convention's recording secretary from Pine Bluff, Ark., was asked about another forged document Thursday, he said. Bifford said he did not recall a vote on the Harris loan, but said he recalled discussion of the issue. Bifford said he also was asked about the Baptist Builder Fund, Lyons' secret bank account. The grand jury called him, Bifford said, to find out whether any convention records indicate that Lyons misspent money.