Editor’s Note: The Baptist Paper broke this story and published it on their website.
The (Will) McRaney v. North American Mission Board lawsuit, initially filed in 2017, was dismissed Aug. 15 by the U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi Aberdeen Division.
“Adjudication of the Plaintiff’s claims in this lawsuit will clearly require the Court to inquire into religious matters and decision-making to a degree that is simply impermissible under the Constitution and the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine,” states the summary judgment report. Also, the court stated it “agrees with NAMB that Mississippi state courts also clearly lack subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate this dispute.”
NAMB response
NAMB officials said in a statement released early evening Aug. 15, “Since the outset NAMB has consistently held that the accusations against our ministry are unfounded. We have also argued that, as Christian ministries, NAMB and others involved in this case should be protected by the First Amendment and should not be forced to endure scrutiny and intrusive examination from the courts.
“Our goal throughout this process has been to practice restraint in our public comments and to honor Christ in our actions. We continue to pray the best for the plaintiff and his ministry.”
McRaney’s previous writings on the topic
The Baptist Paper has reached out to McRaney for comment.
McRaney previously has written in various formats regarding NAMB, including on his personal blog site with this June 2021 piece related to the lawsuit and this open letter from September 2021.
Read more on the lawsuit here and here. B&R
