Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

NAMB v. McRaney case will be played out in court as early as this fall

  • July 5, 2021
  • Carrie Brown McWhorter
  • Latest News, National News, SBC
(Unsplash photo)

NAMB v. McRaney case will be played out in court as early as this fall

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a request from the North American Mission Board to dismiss a case brought against it by Will McRaney, the former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Delaware.

The case, North American Mission Board v. McRaney, was on a list issued by the court on June 28 of cases denied certiorari. With the Supreme Court’s denial, the case is remanded back to the U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi, which dismissed the lawsuit in April 2019, according to Baptist Press, news service of the Southern Baptist Convention.

McRaney was fired from his position in 2015. His lawsuit alleges he was terminated because he resisted changes required by NAMB regarding funding between state Baptist conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention. McRaney contends NAMB officials, specifically president Kevin Ezell, demanded his firing as retribution.

NAMB legal counsel George McCallum called the allegations “unfounded” in a November 2020 statement to Baptist Press, adding that NAMB has “consistently denied” McRaney’s claims. NAMB says the dispute falls under the “religious exemption” given to faith-based entities.

NAMB is represented pro bono by First Liberty Institute. In a statement to Baptist Press, Jeremy Dys, special counsel for litigation and communications at First Liberty Institute, expressed disappointment at the decision not to hear the case.

“The First Amendment prohibits the government from interfering with the autonomy of religious organizations or the local church,” Dys said. “We are deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court decided not to hear this important case. … There should be no doubt that religious institutions — not judges — have the freedom to choose how to fulfill their religious missions and with whom.”

McRaney asserts NAMB was not his employer and therefore the case does not fall under “ecclesial” matters, which the courts generally avoid.

In a Facebook post, McRaney praised the court’s decision.

“Today is a win for all Southern Baptists that believe that their local church and Baptist body is Baptist headquarters, not NAMB,” McRaney wrote. “Thank you, SCOTUS, for recognizing and upholding the clear separation and autonomy of churches and Baptist bodies when #NAMB trustees refused to. Baptist Polity and Autonomy is preserved. We look forward to the discovery process and building a public record with the evidence that will then be heard by a jury.”

The case could be taken up by the district court as early as this fall.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Study: More people associating pastors with church scandal
    Study: More people associating pastors with church scandal
    February 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • IMB trustees celebrate new missionaries, reports of increased engagement
    IMB trustees celebrate new missionaries, reports of increased engagement
    February 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Embracing the call: IMB celebrates 46 new missionaries appointed to the field
    Embracing the call: IMB celebrates 46 new missionaries appointed to the field
    February 2, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Study: More people associating pastors with church scandal

As fewer Americans interact with pastors on a regular basis, fewer say they trust clergy overall, a recent study shows. And amid recent headlines of

IMB trustees celebrate new missionaries, reports of increased engagement

International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 46 new full-time, fully funded missionaries, while also honoring the service of 87 missionaries and staff during

Embracing the call: IMB celebrates 46 new missionaries appointed to the field

It was an emotional night for Coats Baptist Church from Coats, North Carolina. Fifty church members barely held back whoops of joy as “their” missionaries

Disaster Relief volunteers help clear tornado damage in southeast Texas

Along a several-block stretch of Hillshire Drive in Deer Park, Texas, tree limbs were piled along the street as neighbors sought to clean up from

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel