Securing Justice & Defending Baptist Autonomy

Hi, my name is Will McRaney and I am seeking prayer warriors and financial support to help me in my legal case that involves illegal activities by a mega million dollar ministry, the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. They bullied, defamed and eventually manipulated my termination from a smaller independent regional ministry, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, violating the bylaws of the SBC that it “does not claim and will never attempt to exercise any authority over any other Baptist body, whether church, auxiliary organizations, associations, or convention.”

After a setback with a federal district court, my case is returning to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (where I previously won with a unanimous panel decision and a majority en banc vote) and then likely back to the U.S. Supreme Court (which previously denied my opponent’s attempt to quash my lawsuit).

The case involves personal damages to me, but even more importantly threatens to destroy the autonomy of all Baptists because of misrepresentations in NAMB’s filings which falsely claim a hierarchy between the SBC and other Baptists. The lawsuit even implies that the SBC controls Baptist churches. This attempt to confuse the courts could actually set a precedent which legally establishes a denominational structure that is rejected by Baptists, who cherish autonomy even while voluntarily cooperating at the local, state, national and global levels.

As we move into this next phase of our 6.5-year legal journey, Sandy and I want to thank those who have given us financial support in the past, encouraged us with their words and offered prayers on our behalf. We have been harmed, but we are equally concerned about the risk that imperils every Baptist minister, congregation and cooperative ministry and joint mission that have always been voluntarily supported through the sweet ties of fellowship and not by bonds of organizational control.

We are asking you to help us to remedy our personal hurt from NAMB. But we also need your support to reverse the federal district court’s most recent decision which eliminates the chance for pastors and congregations to seek remedy when harmed by outside religious groups, even those who are part of the broad Baptist family. Our remarkable attorney is preparing to advocate factually on the facts of the case and the historic and foundational cooperation among Baptists that is based on autonomy, not any measure of hierarchy. Consequently, our success will defend the cherished rights of all Baptists.

If nothing else, pray that we prevail in protecting historic Baptist principles.

But also consider supporting our appeal to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and if necessary, to the U.S. Supreme Court. We are up against a religious Goliath, and the five stones in our situation are the gifts you send to assist us in our case. While Sandy and I have personally invested $150,000 in legal expenses over the last 6 years and the legal fee for the appeal process in Circuit and Supreme Court will cost us $75,000, we are not desperate. However, like David, we need to go into the battle sufficiently armed for what might lie ahead, while trusting God to guide each step along the way.

Thank you kindly!

Will and Sandy McRaney

Dr. Randy Adams - Executive Director Northwest Baptist Convention

"As Will McRaney seeks justice for the wrongs done to him, he is also exposing corruption, revealing abuses, and defending the autonomy of Baptist churches, Associations and State Conventions from the dangerous claim that NAMB is a "supporting organization" of state conventions, and that it has the right to interfere in the work of the those it claims to "support." Please join me and many others who support Will and Sandy as they fight not only for justice for themselves, but fight for all of us and defend the Baptist Way."