Supreme Court Slams Door on Baptist Leaders Nine Year Fight Against SBC Mission Board

Supreme Court Rejects Will McRaney's Lawsuit Against Southern Baptist Mission Board NAMB

The U.S. Supreme Court has officially declined to hear the case of Will McRaney v. North American Mission Board (NAMB), bringing an end to a legal battle that has stretched nearly nine years within the Southern Baptist Convention.

The high court released its orders list on Monday, February 24, 2026, denying McRaney's petition for certiorari without comment. The decision allows the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against McRaney to stand.

McRaney, the former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD), was dismissed from his position in June 2015. He filed suit against NAMB in April 2017, alleging defamation and improper interference that led to his removal.

The dispute traces back to a 2012 Strategic Partnership Agreement between NAMB and BCMD focused on evangelization efforts. McRaney disagreed with NAMB over the implementation of the agreement, and NAMB took issue with his leadership.

Civil courts cannot adjudicate ecclesiastical matters. The church autonomy doctrine forbids courts from adjudicating matters of church governance.

That was the conclusion of Judge Andrew S. Oldham, writing for the majority in the Fifth Circuit's September 2025 decision, which upheld the dismissal in a 2 to 1 ruling.

NAMB released a statement following the Supreme Court's decision, saying the ruling "brings closure to a long and difficult legal dispute filed against our ministry nearly nine years ago."

McRaney, however, expressed disappointment. He warned that the ruling sets a precedent where Baptist leaders "can now defame and interfere with Baptist ministers, partners, and financial supporters" without legal recourse.

While we are disappointed the Supreme Court did not choose to grant certiorari in this particular case, we trust that in time justice will be done and the rights of Baptist people and partners restored. This decision will have an impact on millions of Baptists and other religious groups.

McRaney called the outcome a "Pyrrhic victory" for NAMB, suggesting the legal precedent could have unintended consequences for religious organizations across the country.

McRaney v. NAMB Supreme Court Decision Ends Nine Year Southern Baptist Legal Battle

The case has wound through multiple courts over the years. A Mississippi judge first ruled against McRaney in April 2019. A three judge panel on the Fifth Circuit reversed that decision in 2020, sending the case back for further proceedings. But in September 2025, a different Fifth Circuit panel upheld the dismissal, finding that the church autonomy doctrine barred all of McRaney's claims.

McRaney also argued that the ruling permits the ecclesial abstention doctrine to shield defendants "who never worked for the defendant" and never submitted to their authority, raising concerns about how broadly religious organizations can invoke this legal protection.

The Crusader's Opinion

This ruling should concern every Baptist who believes in accountability. The church autonomy doctrine is vital for protecting congregations from government overreach, but it was never meant to be a shield for institutional misconduct. When a missions entity can allegedly defame a man, orchestrate his firing, and then hide behind religious liberty protections to avoid any legal consequences, something has gone terribly wrong. Religious freedom protects the Church from the State. It should never protect the powerful from answering for their actions against the faithful. Baptists deserve better than a system where institutional power goes unchecked.

Take Action

• Pray for accountability and transparency within the Southern Baptist Convention and all denominational bodies.
• Contact your local SBC association and ask about governance accountability measures. Find your local association at www.sbc.net.
• Attend your church's business meetings and denominational conventions to ensure leaders are held accountable.
• Support organizations advocating for transparency in church leadership, such as the Shepherd's Shield at www.TheShepherdsShield.org.
• Read the full court opinions and educate yourself about the church autonomy doctrine and its implications for religious liberty at Becket Fund.