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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Federal appeals court allows McRaney lawsuit against SBC’s NAMB to proceed

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – On July 16, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave Will McRaney, former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, a procedural victory in his lawsuit against the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention “for intentional interference with business relationships, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The BCMD is an independent state organization of Baptist churches and the NAMB is a ministry arm of the SBC, an independent national organization of Baptist churches. The BCMD and SBC are considered in good fellowship with one another, but each is an autonomous organization. A federal district judge in Mississippi had dismissed McRaney’s lawsuit in 2019 based on NAMB’s position that the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine (also known as the religious autonomy doctrine, which prevents courts from deciding matters of faith such as religious doctrine) protected them from legal action. But a 5th Circuit panel of three judges ruled against this argument for now, stating that McRaney’s lawsuit was ended prematurely by that judge, because it was not clear that this legal principle was indeed … [Read more...]

MIKE STONE Part 2: My final word on being chairman of the SBC Executive Committee

By Mike Stone NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Last week, I issued a press release concerning matters related to the SBCEC. I indicated there would be a short series of similar releases addressing several items. This, however, will be my final press release on my chairmanship as far as I intend. That will make this statement a bit longer than I would prefer but I think this is a better approach. I recognize that for some, no amount of information will ever be sufficient. More information will keep things agitated. Therefore, others will be free to have the last word, even if it is predictably an unfair, untrue, or unfavorable word. Here are some final facts about the more controversial issues of the last few months. The Election of Officers The June 16 election of officers occurred within both the spirit and the letter of our bylaws. The last-minute attempted bylaw change was a really bad idea presented in a really poor way. Its rejection required only common sense, not a conspiracy or manipulation of parliamentary procedure. Our new chairman, Mr. Slade, has acknowledged publicly that the confusion was on his part. That’s the bottom line. Regarding the accusations of impropriety, everyone has a right to his own perspective. Nobody has a … [Read more...]

MIKE STONE Part 1: Outgoing SBC Executive Committee chairman addresses concerns

By Mike Stone NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An old adage advises, “Don’t defend yourself. Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it.” That is generally excellent counsel but it fails to envision a majority of people who comprise a third category. Namely, those who are neither friend nor enemy but who are merely uninformed. Such is the case with the recent accusations made regarding my final meeting as chairman of the SBC Executive Committee (SBCEC). These are serious matters and I believe they warrant a detailed response. I plan to speak further to these items in the immediate days ahead but there are three central items I wish to address briefly today. The process of the election of SBCEC officers on June 16th The election of officers affiliated with the Conservative Baptist Network The reasons for my belief that the Conservative Baptist Network is needed within the life of the Southern Baptist Convention  First, the outgoing chairman of the SBCEC has the duty to nominate the chairpersons of what are essentially subcommittees. These various chairpersons become officers of the board, if elected following nominations from the floor. This is not some parting “power grab” by the outgoing chairman.  It is … [Read more...]