Why did over 60 Bapt local, state & nat. leaders w/ SBC statesman & 20 year President/CEO Morris Chapman file an Amicus Brief in the NAMB case?

What are these leaders seeking to do?  What are they saying?

Are NAMB’s false statements in their filings a threat & attack on all Baptists and put at risk hundreds of millions in Baptist mission gifts?  Short article in Baptist News. 

Baptist historian and expert case witness Dr. Barry Hankins wrote… (1)  “If NAMB’s interpretation of the First Amendment prevailed, every Baptist entity that cooperates in any way with the SBC would be put at risk.” Dr. Hankins also wrote, (2) “It is my opinion as a scholar of Church-State relations in the US that NAMB’s First Amendment defense in this case, if accepted by courts, would actually undermine religious liberty rather than safeguard it.”

Appeal made to US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals – Link is to key court filings by NAMB, ERLC and McRaney along with a few short articles on the case.

It’s Not Just ERLC that made foolish and false statements to the Courts: Read NAMB’s own words

Read for yourself to discover what NAMB and ERLC wrote the courts and that will allow you to determine if they made statements that are false, intentionally deceptive, and put all Baptists for generations to come at risk.

Filed Quotes and Claims by NAMB and ERLC –  Read their own words

Select Summary Statements by NAMB and ERLC  –  Read several key statements, and then answer an obvious question around that NAMB or ERLC statement.

What will the SBC Executive Committee and NAMB Trustees do?  Neither group can claim they are blindsided.  The documents are public and both groups have fiduciary duties to all Baptist bodies, leaders and givers.

What will State Baptist Convention leaders, Associational leaders, and leaders of churches say and do?  Will they raise their voices and demand change at NAMB?

NAMB’s reply brief is due about November 30.  Will they intentionally deceive the courts again?  Will others file an amicus brief?  We will see.

One Baptist pastor stated that Baptist churches have been funding Goliath, and then asked, when will Baptist shift and begin funding David.  If you would like to consider financially supporting the defense of Baptist values and autonomy along with the First Amendment, you can contact me directly or give through this GoFundMe account for that purpose.

PS – On unrelated matter except as to veracity of NAMB President who was named in a fraud case in Sept. 2023.  One article on the case “Lawsuit Accuses NAMB President Kevin Ezell of Lying to Get Higher Price on Home“.

5th Circuit Matters in Process: McRaney v. NAMB

Related Quotes

Baptist Historian and court expert Dr. Barry Hankins of Baylor University

Related Court Documents

• Doc 21-1 Appeal Brief McRaney Oct 31 2023
  • Doc 21-2 Appeal Brief Record Excerpts McRaney Oct 31 2023
• Doc 24 Amicus Brief Current and Former Baptist Leaders
• Doc. 191 – Plaintiff’s Supplemental Pleading – FILED 12.7.22 – Operating Complaint

Summary of Key Statements by NAMB and ERLC to federal courts: docs provided to most current SBC Executive Committee members

• Filed Quotes and Claims by NAMB and ERLC to Federal Courts by behalf of Baptists
• Select Summary Statements by NAMB and ERLC with related questions

Related Articles

Baptist New Global – Morris Chapman joins 60 Signers of Court Brief Arguing against Kevin Ezell and NAMB

Baptist News Global  – Coalition of Baptist Leaders will File Amicus Brief Challenging NAMBs View of First Amendment

Capstone Report –  Join an Amicus Brief to Stop the Life of SBC Elites

Baptist Press – McRaney Files Appeal with Fifth Circuit

Video by Dr. Randy Adams – Executive Director of the Northwest Baptist Convention

NAMB Key Filings: District Court, US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, & US Supreme Court

• NAMB court filing 11.2.18 Defenses Select Marking
• Doc 198 – NAMB’s Defense Answer to Supplemental Pleading
• NAMB Defendant’s Brief 5th Circuit
• NAMB Petition to SCOTUS
• NAMB Final Response to Opposition Brief SCOTUS

ERLC Key Filings:  US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, & US Supreme Court

• ERLC amicus brief for NAMB Ezell En Banc marked
• 008 ERLC Correction Amicus Brief 5th Circuit filing re NAMB
• ERLC Muslim Mormons brief SCOTUS 20-1158ac NAMB select marked

Related Articles:

Breaking: NAMB Saw False ERLC Brief Before It was Filed with 5th Circuit

Court Filings June 1, 2023

Doc 272 – McRaney Response to NAMB Motion for Summary Judgment

Doc 273 McRaney Response in Opposition to NAMB’s Motion for Summary Judgment

Doc 272-8 NAMB, ERLS, TMS Communications Privilege Log

Doc 274 Plaintiffs Objection to NAMB’s Undisputed Facts [263] from NAMB’s MOTION for Summary Judgment

Related Exhibits from McRaney Response to NAMB’s motion for Summary Judgment

Doc 272 List of Exhibits Oppose Summary Judgement

272-1 Affidavit Declaration of Scott Gant

272-2 H NAMB’s Carlos Ferrer Depo Excerpts

272-3 I NAMB’s Steve Davis Depo Excerpts

272-4 J NAMB Trustee Danny de Armas Depo Exerpts

272-5 K NAMB’s Kevin Ezell Depo Exerpts

272-6 L Former NAMB  Bill Barker Depo Exerpts

272-7 M Danny Wood Depo Exerpts

272-8 N NAMB 30(b)(6) Transcript Kevin Ezell

272-9 O NAMB’s Tom Wigginton Depo Exerpts

272-10 P Sandy McRaney Depo Exerpts

272-11 Q Rob Paul Depo Exerpts

272-12 R Clint Scott Delaration

272-13 S Steve Wolverton Declaration

272-14 T Rick Wheeler Declaration

272-15 U Joel Breidenbaugh Declaration

272-16 V Plaintiff Interrogatory Responses

272-17 W Plaintiff Third Set of RFPs

272-18 X Discovery Documents

272

McRaney Motion for Summary Judgment on NAMB’s Claim to be a “Supporting Organization”

Doc 266 McRaney Motion Partial Summary Judgment on NAMB’s claim of Supporting Organization

Doc 265 Exhibits by McRaney on motion Supporting Organization

265

265-1 Affidavit Declaration of Scott Gant

265-2 Exhibit A NAMB’s Response to 2nd Set Interrogatories

265-3 Exhibit B Excerpts NAMB Kevin Ezell 30(b)(6) Depo Transcript

265-4 Exhibit C Excerpts NAMB Carlos Ferrer Depo Transcript

265-5 Exhibit D Excerpts from NAMB Steve Davis Depo Transcript

265-6 Exhibit E Exhibits 30 & 31 from NAMB Mike Ebert Depos

265-7 Exhibit F Excerpts from BCMD Bill Warren Depo

265-8 Exhibit G Excerpts from de Armas Depo Transcript

All court documents available in federal court Pacer system  –

• set up a free account
• log in to Pacer system
• Court to review – Northern District of Mississippi under US District Courts
• Select/Click on Norther District of Mississippi – Document Filing System
• Select Query
• Look for case under either Will McRaney or North American Mission Board or case number from document above and select Run Query
• Select an area such as History/Documents
• Select from newest or select from oldest

Baptist News:

• McRaney Trial Finally gets a Date and NAMB is Compelled to Expand the Scope of Its Documentation
• Six Years Later Will McRaney Might get His Day in Court Against NAMB Maybe

Baptist Message:

• McRaney v. NAMB: Newly Released Materials Appear to Show Intent to Harm
• Key Documents Filed in McRaney v. NAMB

Below are new court documents and articles on our case.

Judge’s Order – Doc 190 Order on Motion to Compel

Amended Complaint – Doc. 191 – Plaintiff’s Supplemental Pleading – FILED 12.7.22

Published Articles on 12.9.22

“McRaney trial finally gets a date, and NAMB is compelled to expand the scope of its documentation” – Baptist News

“NAMB corrects false legal filing; it is still misleading” – Capstone Report

“SBC CP giving crashed in November” – Capstone Report

GoFundMe “Help the McRaneys Fight for Religious Liberty“

Doc. 155 – Memo in Support of  Motion to Compel NAMB

Doc. 154 – Motion to Compel NAMB Production

Doc 153 NAMB petitions the court to add attorney

October 26, 2022 filings – Amended Complaint and related documents 

Doc. 148-1 – Amended Complaint against NAMB – actual 13 page amended complaint

Doc. 148-2 – Correspondence with Defendant’s Counsel and NAMB

Doc. 149 – Memo ISO Motion for Leave to Amend Complaint – Memo in support of McRaney’s request to amend complaint

Select recent court filings FYI…

NAMB’s filing for partial summary judgement – (see PACER electronic filing system)

Doc 86 McRaney response to NAMB’s request for partial summary judgement

Doc. 85-1 CPA Expert Report on Supporting Organization

Doc. 134 – Economist Expert Wage Damage Report

Doc. 133 – Religion Baptist History Expert Report

Doc. 136 – McRaney Response to NAMB Motion to Reconsider and Vacate

Related news articles on above docs

McRaney v. NAMB: Newly Released Materials Appear to Show Intent to Harm  – Louisiana Baptist Message

NAMB Engaged in ‘Egregious Misconduct’ Court Filing Claims   Capstone Report

“Will NAMB cost the SBC tens or hundreds of millions of dollars?” Capstone Report

“Expert: NAMB threatens religious liberty of every Southern Baptist” Capstone Report

“Separate filings accuse two SBC agencies of misleading courts to delay trial and avoid scrutiny” Baptist News Global

“Key Document filed in McRaney v. NAMB” Baptist Message (LA paper)

SHINE THE LIGHT, VOTE for motions seeking to bring light into NAMB and SBC entities with forensic and investigative audits.  This is good for the sacrificial givers to Cooperative Program (CP) and Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO).  This is good for the entity, organization that is seeking to do right and steward well.  AND, it is good for righteous operating Presidents and CFOs.  It is only bad for entity leaders who are seeking to keep wrong doings uncovered.  Naysayers may be people and ministry leaders who are on the receiving end of gifts, favors and payoffs for protecting of failed results and/or bad behaviors.

SHINE THE LIGHT on NAMB and the entire SBC.  It is your money.  It is all private donations for missions efforts from you, others like you and Baptist churches.

So many reasons to vote for more LIGHT and so very many questionable uses with your mission gifts.  NAMB assets increased $54 million in 2021.  Dismantled and now disgraced national evangelism staff.  Dismantled partnerships with State Conventions for joint evangelism staff to serve your Association and the churches in your Association.  Defunded Associations outside of the south (remember 2011-2014?).  Defunded vocational evangelists and local evangelistic efforts.  WHILE baptisms at 100 year lows and down over 150,000/yr. not just 2020 CoVid year, but also in 2021.  Baptisms numbers have CRASHED, like the number of SBC/NAMB church planting starts.

Houses & luxury homes for friends of NAMB leaders, $175,000 cashier’s grants to planters, VP giving his church large money, VP Hunt … so many potential conflicts of interests, special loan terms for friends, so many questions & possible payoffs, CP & AAEO put into home & loans that are then sold and put into over $250 million in reserves, violations of SBC rules & NAMB rules, direct fundraising from churches, over $600,000 lobbying US Congress, failed evangelism strategies, failed church planting strategies, failed partnerships, failed financial stewardship and so much more.  SHINE THE LIGHT.

See what an investigative forensic audit can find when James MacDonald and Harvest Bible were investigated.  Report from Investigative Forensic Audit of Harvest Bible & James MacDonald.  You will see what can be found upon further review.  Remember Enron and their normal accountant Arthur Andersen?  Disappeared!  Can’t find these one time powerhouse partners.

VOTE to SHINE THE LIGHT with motions at the SBC this week!

In 2019, the NAMB Trustees, including SBC 2022 Presidential Nominee Willy Rice along with Pastor Grant Gaines of Tennessee, received the following letter below regarding the actions of NAMB President Kevin Ezell and his NAMB PR Director Mike Ebert.  Also in 2019, 150 Baptist journalists of the Baptist Communicator Association were informed of the threat Ebert made against Hannigan.  Interestingly,  Ebert was the President of  BCA at that time  and its own code of ethics prohibit the very actions he took to protect Ezell.  Read below to know more in relation to 2003 when Ezell took clergy penitent privilege after civil authorities questioned him in a child molestation case.  Note:   The abuser was found guilty of 10 sexual abuse felonies against 7 boys.  Still another 150 Baptist national leaders including the NAMB Trustees and the SBC President, SBC EC President/CEO, the SBC Executive Committee members and several State Baptist Executive Directors were also informed.  COMPLICITY BY SILENCE THEN,….yet  WHAT NOW SAY RICE, GAINES, and ALL the NAMB TRUSTEES?

Who was Protected by the Threat?  Ezell, Mohler, Akin, Scroggins, Moore, others?

Why did Ezell direct or allow Ebert to threaten Mrs. Hannigan, herself a sexual abuse survivor?  Maybe it was became he was protecting not only himself, but other Highview Baptist leaders.  Among the leaders at Highview at the time were Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, current Southeastern Theological Seminary President Danny Akin, SBTS Dean and later LifeWay President Tom Rainer, current Family Church Pastor and LifeWay Trustee Chairman Jimmy Scroggins (remember the $1 million gift to Rainer that Scroggins solely authorized?), SBTS Dean and former SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty President Russell Moore.  Was Ezell protecting himself and others when he misused the SBC trust, financial resources, and positional power to threaten Hannigan for just personal reasons or was he also covering for one or more of these men?  What did Mohler, Akin, Rainer, Scroggins, and Moore know about the claims of abuse by Maggard?  What was known in 1996 when Maggard mysteriously disappeared from his post as Principal of Highview School at virtually the same time Highview hired Ezell to be their pastor and how many of the above listed people knew about the situation?

What Now Rice, Gaines & Trustees?

What will Willy Rice now do as the NAMB Trustee Vice Chairman, member since June 2018?  What will Grant Gaines do as a NAMB Trustee since June 2019?  Will the NAMB Trustee body do their fiduciary duties for SBC and moral duty to Mrs. Hannigan  to discipline Ezell and Ebert AND make restitution to Mrs. Joni Hannigan?  The record is clear and documents available, so will there be justice? OR will this continue to be The Only Sexual Abuse Case NO ONE is allow to talk or write about?

—————————————————-

Now made public… Letter emailed to NAMB Trustees in Nov. 2019  

Let me get straight to the point.  Kevin Ezell’s unfounded threat through Mike Ebert in June 2018 of a libel lawsuit against female Baptist journalists Joni Hannigan was cowardly, deplorable and deserves an immediate personal apology, restitution and discipline of Ezell and Ebert.  Frankly, termination for Ezell’s punk, bullying behavior is in order for his silence inducing threat against a sexual abuse survivor.   Mrs. Hannigan’s offense was to publish what Ezell wanted to remain hidden in a child molestation case of 7 boys while he was the Pastor at Highview. (acts prior to his arrival)  He ashamedly misused the power and resources of NAMB and the trust of his position to further damage a former journalist trying to reengage in writing.  ABUSE of POWER, POSITION and TRUST!  Maybe it was because 5 other SBC entity heads were members of Highview and connected to SBTS.

Both Ezell and Ebert know that Mrs. Hannigan wrote straight-line truth in her 5 sentences on Ezell’s invoking clergy penitent privilege in a child molestation case in KY.  Her facts were from public information available through Louisville newspapers and legal filings.  Hannigan’s 5 sentences on Ezell were buried in a some 3,000 word article on the SBC Resolution on Reporting Sexual Abuse and MeToo.  She wrote this story less than a month after publishing her own sexual abuse by a deacon of a church cooperating with the SBC.  Within 4 hours of Hannigan’s publishing the article, Ebert sent his threatening text message. (see below)

The message sent to Mrs. Hannigan and all other journalists was LOUD and CLEAR, you will be punished professionally and threatened with a lawsuit if you publish what Ezell wants to remain hidden.  Sadly, Ezell’s threat not only worked temporarily against Mrs. Hannigan, but is still impacting other journalists today.  Mrs. Hannigan published the threat on her website some 8 months later, entitled ‘Kevin’ Ezell’s warning threatening to sue me for libel after my SBC story.

The attorneys representing your insurance company and the NAMB Trustees have demonstrated little regard for truth and demonstrated a win at the cost of justice or regard for the damages their lying defense claims by bring to the SBC.  These false claims by attorneys are under your fiduciary watch.

In spite of NAMB Trustees remaining publicly SILENT on false claims to federal courts, several journalists have recently chosen to speak to the issues.  Several notable articles have been published recently with notable repostings by Robert Downen of Houston Chronicle and former SBC CEO Morris Chapman.  (Links Below)

You have fiduciary duties to speak into these legal and financial threats, along with false claims filed by NAMB VP Carlos Ferrer via his affidavit.  You have a duty to demand Ezell obey Mt. 18 and also give an account for his actions under cross examination in keeping with Prov. 18:17.  Sounds like a broken record, but God’s Word is to be obeyed as we seek resolution inside or outside fo the courts.

If the NAMB Trustees and the EC ignore justice and willfully remains silent in the face of the false representation to the courts by attorneys, the SBC deserves whatever the legal fallout that may come as well, the loss of trust in the NAMB Trustees and SBC partnership.  If you let Ezell and Ebert threaten a female journalist for telling the truth and not seek to make things right with Mrs. Hannigan, you should remove yourself from your fiduciary responsibilities in service to Southern Baptists.

I am praying you act, lest you become complicit in Ezell’s behaviors and the false claims of your attorneys.  But if choose to remain silent, God still will not be mocked and what has been done in darkness will come into the light.

Will McRaney

• “Southern Baptist polity on trial in lawsuit appeal” – Bob Allen, Baptist News – former BP and ABP writer
• “Former state exec says arguments by NAMB attorneys increase SBC’s risk of liability for sexual abuse”  – Bob Allen, Baptist News – former BP and ABP writer
• “Concerns circulate that NAMB’s lawsuit response erodes historic SBC doctrine” – Will Hall LA Baptist Message and former SBC EC VP for Communications
• “Will McRaney ‘s Attorney Strikes at the *Achille’s Heel* of the Southern Baptist Convention: The Autonomy of Local Churches and State Associations“ – Dee Parsons of Wartburg Watch
• “North American Mission Board Perjures Itself to Win in Court” – April 2019  –  Pulpit and Pen

** Note:  This letter was before NAMB lost twice in 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court denied NAMB’s request to be heard by the court.  

One church’s response to SBC lawlessness and subsequent silence by the SBC EC and other leaders.  

Topics Addressed:  Many and Unthinkable – corruption, self-dealing, abuse of power, damage to fellow servants, failed strategy, dismantling of SBC mission ecosystem, deception to federal courts up to SCOTUS, violations of rules, SBC policies, governing docs and laws, properties, alcohol, silence and cover up, SBC Cabal, & more.

Leaders Addressed:  Linton, Greear, Lewis, Scroggins, Rainer, Ezell, Thomas, Ebert, Ferrer, Moore, Hunt, Law, Floyd, Mohler, SBC Cabal

Open Letter to Current & Former SBC EC Members,

We all have come to expect corruption, dishonesty, cover-ups, political favors and self-dealing in US politics and even among business leaders.  However, we should not expect nor tolerate the same behaviors, strategies, and tactics in Baptist leaders who claim to represent Christ.  I certainly did not expect these things to be ignored by positional stewards once they became aware of the wrongs.  It is sad to watch positional leaders display a lack spiritual of courage to speak truth to wrongs in the name of protecting __(you fill in the blank)__.  Our higher duty is to God and truth and then to those who give the mission money.  Our primary duty is not to those who are paid to steward it and benefit from it, nor can we ignore wrongs in the name of protecting an organization, as if God is not watching and involved.

While most followers of Christ are troubled by the lack of integrity and the dishonestly around current world events by some national leaders and media, I am also more deeply troubled about the blatant unaddressed failures in character, utter lawlessness and self-dealing that has gone unspoken publicly by the SBC Executive Committee, a majority of State Baptist executive leaders, and Baptist Press.  We all recognize the human frailty that is ever with us as individuals and as organizations.  However, with a duty of financial stewardship I cannot support the SBC CP in light of the public, direct and blatant self-dealing and ignoring of our own rules and public ethics by Baptist leaders.  The SBC Executive Committee CEO/President’s continued silence in light of his position, current duties and past roles to accelerate the corporate culture in the mid-90s is unacceptable.  The feckless response by Floyd and the SBC EC to these and other troubling matters is not worthy of the tithes and offerings of the people I serve at The Island Chapel who have contributed to the SBC cooperative mission efforts for almost 30 years.

I will consider writing on these in an expanded form in the future, but let me summarize now with several troubling bulleted paragraphs that highlight incidents of lawlessness and self-enrichment that has been tolerated without public statements from the SBC EC, the SBC EC CEO/President, or Baptist Press who is under the SBC EC’s leadership.  In no particular order…  LAWLESSNESS,  CORRUPTION,  and  ABUSE 

SBC Presidents & NAMB Send President

• Ed Litton is in clear violation of the SBC governing documents to serve as SBC President and Trustee of NAMB because his wife is an employee of NAMB.  His SBC Presidency MAKES him a NAMB Trustee which creates the violation.  Actually by SBC policy, he has been removed as a Trustee and is to be replaced according to the SBC governing bylaws.  The rules are the rules, when we like them and when we don’t.  The rules apply when they are good for our friends and when they are not.  As well it is publicly known that Litton not only plagiarized sermons numerous times, he lied when he used illustrations and told them as if they happened to him.
• JD Greear, while serving as SBC President and Trustee, received multiple large direct and indirect benefits from NAMB/Ezell in clear violation of SBC governing bylaws.  He too should have been replaced as SBC President.  (I shared these with the SBC EC previously)
• D’hati Lewis NAMB VP (President of Send Network) funneled SBC mission money entrusted to NAMB to the church he pastors, Blueprint.  From that money, Lewis gave a $175,000 cashier’s check to Cornerstone, a plant connected to Blueprint church whose pastor soon afterwards publicly kissed the SBC goodbye.  Conflict of interest?   Of course it is!  How much SBC/NAMB missions money was given to Lewis’ church?  Violations of IRS rules regarding non-profits?  Think about it…. The NAMB VP Lewis providing leadership of the Send Network and overseeing a $70-75 million church planting budget is functioning as a bi-vocational pastor as the planting challenges mount.

LifeWay – Scroggins & Rainer

• Jimmy Scroggins, Former LifeWay Trustee Chairman, is being allowed to continue to serve as a LifeWay Trustee in spite of being in clear violation of SBC governing bylaws.  The bylaws indicate he be removed and replaced in light of his having 3 book contracts with LifeWay/Rainer and other direct and indirect benefits from the entity in which he was voted on by the SBC messengers to oversee.
• The same Jimmy Scroggins, while chairman of the LifeWay Trustees, was allowed to GIVE the then President of LifeWay $1 million as LW President Thom Rainer was RESIGNING!  He was NOT retiring from successful leadership.  LifeWay was coming off an annual loss of $35.5 million and on the verge of closing all the LifeWay stores.  Scroggins did not ask or inform the entire LifeWay Trustee board, the officers of the Trustees or even the Compensation Committee but solely approved the payment.  Of note, Scroggins was on staff at Highview in Louisville under Ezell, where Rainer, Mohler, Akin and Moore were all members and in leadership as well.  Is there a problem here?
• Thom Rainer, former LifeWay President, was in leadership in 2016 and 2017 when LifeWay reported losses of $35.5 million and making plans to close its retail stores.  According to Rainer’s own writing, on his own stationary, posted on his own Twitter account, he was grossing $225,000 per week in subscriber income to his Church Answers business in Feb. and March 2016.  Reports from LifeWay insiders and other sources have Rainer using LifeWay staff to build his Church Answers using LifeWay paid time and equipment in violation of LW rules.  Church Answers was competing in areas of ministry that LifeWay could have operated.  Did Rainer use LifeWay staff on the website or in other ways?  Equipment?  Knowledge gained and contacts? – for his personal gain?
  • In 2018 Rainer as announced his future resignation, he remained as CEO of LifeWay and then Kevin Ezell announced that he put Rainer (his former church member) under contract to work in revitalization for NAMB.  In early 2019 Rainer continued in his role as LW President, and then LW closed 170 retails stores while Rainer received among other benefits, $1 million from his friend Scroggins as the LW Trustee Chairman.  Did he ever pay that money back when he was exposed for violating his non-compete agreement with LW, like he had done with Church Answers?

NAMB, Kevin Ezell and NAMB leaders

• Kevin Ezell as the NAMB President and NAMB Trustee Chairman Eric Thomas in June 2021 stood before the messengers of the SBC and basically told messenger Joey Hufstedler and all the SBC messengers to KISS OFF, “We have no intention of following the SBC Business and Financial Plan” which requires them to provide salary structures, income, expenditures, etc.  Don’t worry, it took the SBC EC and Floyd over 150 days to comply with my numerous requests for the SBC EC salary structure.  This was during the time Floyd stood and falsely told the FL Baptist Convention that the SBC EC is not an SBC entity.  I know, I was there.  Is Ezell really making $750,000 in salary and benefits as reported?  No compliance on reporting, no trust and the givers don’t know.  Oh, and certainly there was no favor and silenced secured in the $62 million in housing purchased by NAMB/Ezell.
  • Is Ezell teaching planters to take the clergy penitent privilege like he did at Highview in a child molestation case?  Is he teaching planters to threaten journalists like he/Mike Ebert threatened respected journalist and sexual abuse survivor Joni Hannigan who dared to write 5 sentences about his taking clergy penitent privilege while pastoring at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.  Is that how you want a NAMB President to use power entrusted to him, to threaten a journalist with libel for telling what was contained in court records and reported accounts?  Over 150 Baptist journalists were informed, (300 total people) yet refused to write on it.  DEAD SILENCE… Several SBC EC members were told as well and did not speak publicly to apologize to Mrs. Hannigan or rebuke Ezell and Ebert publicly.
  • Did the SBC EC authorize NAMB staff members to raise money from churches which is forbidden in governing documents?  Or did SBC EC authorize NAMB to raise funds for Send Relief as is required by the SBC governing documents prior to raising money?  Or did the SBC or SBC EC approve Ezell having a NAMB Trustee from Michigan be a NAMB staff member at the same time which is forbidden in the governing bylaws?
    

    NAMB in Federal Courts to SCOTUS

  • NAMB has claimed in legal filings with federal courts from the District Court up to the US Supreme Court that NAMB:  (1) is a Supporting Organization of a State Baptist Convention, (2) has absolute privileges over a State Baptist Convention, (3) has the right to defame, (4) has the right to interfere with the employment of State Baptist Conventions and their leaders, (5)received a release when a State Baptist Convention employee released their employer, and (6) filed a deceptive affidavit by CFO Carlos Ferrer.  These false claims by NAMB were joined in by the then ERLC President Russell Moore who falsely claimed in legal filings that there is a SBC hierarchy and the SBC is an umbrella for the various State Conventions.  NAMB deceptively told SCOTUS that a State Baptist Convention Exec. Director worked for an “entity of the SBC” when no State Baptist Convention is an entity of the SBC.  NAMB is claiming ascending release from a State Baptist Convention employee.  Do you think there can be ascending releases without ascending responsibilities and liabilities?  Can you say “more lawsuits” using NAMB’s own legally filed words and those filed by the ERLC?
    

    Double & Triple Dipping & Self-enriching/Corrupt Deals?

  • NAMB Senior VP Johnny Hunt is following or setting the path for NAMB VP Lewis by being bi or tri vocational while drawing a large unknown salary funded by Cooperative Program and mission gifts.  Hunt provides leadership in several for-profit businesses.  Hunt operates several non-profits as well.  In 2019 on IRS Form 990s he reported re Johnny Hunt Ministries income of $834,535 for 2019 from this ONE non-profit ministry.  Of this $835K, he reported: Speaking Engagement income of $246,957, Advance Conference income of $93,503, Spark Conference income of $52,413, and Conference Sponsorships income of $61,528.  Additional income of $55,975 in royalties and net income from sales of inventory of $101,000.  Mind you, all this is in addition to his NAMB salary.  How much of this money is from NAMB/Ezell?  Did he take time off from NAMB to conduct these events, travel and make preparations?
    • What is the relationship between all of non-profits businesses and for profit business and NAMB and other SBC entities. How much NAMB money did Hunt/Timothy Barnabas get from NAMB under Reccord, under Hammond (I think Timothy Barnabas was cut off), and under Ezell?  Is that why Hunt spoke against Hammond’s leadership in the only reported NAMB Trustee meeting he attended and the one where Hammond was removed as President?  (remember that Litton is a NAMB Trustee with his wife and employee of NAMB)
    • What are the penalties for filing false reports to the IRS?  Year after year in some of Hunt’s ministries he has filed that no family members are members of his board and are not receiving compensation, when in fact multiple family members were serving on boards and receiving compensation.
  • • Why in 2018 and prior years under Ezell’s tenure was the principle office address of Hunt’s Timothy Barnabas listed as the physical address of NAMB?  Why did the primary address of Timothy Barnabas move from NAMB to Hunt’s home later in the year in the year Hunt “GAVE” NAMB Timothy Barnabas?  What was arranged in the June 2018 Trustee officers meeting to give NAMB Timothy Barnabas?   Ezell/NAMB hired Jim Law (Hunt’s long-term employee) in early August 2018 and then Hunt was announced in late August 2018?
    • What were the loan terms and financial arrangements between NAMB/Ezell and Hunt re The Woodstock Church at Panama City Beach when Hunt secured controls of a brand new church facility from FBC Panama City beach worth over $17 million in 2013 and a reported debt of about 2 million?  FBC PCB had sold property and reportedly put $15 million in cash into the building in trying to finish it before Hunt took over with a merge in 2013.  Jim Law signed the papers. What are Hunt’s responsibilities as an employee of NAMB and a director of The Woodstock Church at Panama City Beach?  What are Jim Law’s responsibilities in this church to serve as an officer of The Woodstock Church at Panama City Beach in multiple years, including 2019 while a NAMB employee?
  • Hunt reported 2019 travel expenses of $225,863 from just one (Johnny Hunt Ministries) of Hunt’s several non-profit organizations.  How much of that was paid by NAMB or another SBC entity?   In two of Hunt’s non-profits, he reported in 2017 travel expenses of $420,000 ($120,889 from 3 H Publishers and $296,903 from “Timothy Barnabas”).  Is NAMB paying the difference in the $420,000 Hunt used for travel expenses in 2017 and the $225,000 Hunt reported in 2019?  In 2016 Hunt reported travel expenses of $299,183 from Timothy Barnabas.  NAMB hired and used independent auditor and SBC conference speaker Michael Batts in 2014.  My notes state that Hunt hired Batts as well, but I cannot locate to confirm at this point. In previous years Johnny reported travel expenses of $15K in 2012, $28K in 2013, $51K in 2014, and $194K in 2015.  In 2016 Hunt also reported $101,836 in travel expenses for his 3 H Publishers.  Remarkable?  Maybe expenditures of NAMB will reveal who NAMB is paying for travel agent work and if that is connected in some way to the Hunts.

• • FINANCIAL QUESTIONS:  How much SBC Cooperative Program and Annie Armstrong Mission Offerings is going to pay Hunt’s NAMB salary and benefits?  How much NAMB employment time did Hunt use to earn this and other income, while SBC baptisms continue to hit record lows most years and NAMB has defunded joint evangelism staff.  Like Rainer at LifeWay, did NAMB pay for any of Hunt’s expense as he earned these incomes?  Did NAMB pay businesses with employees and owners who are members of the Hunt family?
  • Hunt’s long-term staff member and NAMB evangelism leader James Law served as the President of that organization.  Law serves in leadership of other organizations connected to Hunt.  NAMB VP President of Evangelism Jim Law (if he is still there as NAMB has pulled virtually all their staff off their website as they serve Baptists nationally), organized J. Law Ministries in 2015.  Law in 2018 reported total revenue of $12,808 and expenses of $14,958, but showed net assets of $688,459 ($40,048 in cash and $648,411 in publicly traded securities).  Is any of this from NAMB?
• Ronnie Floyd is reported to have received SBC mission money from NAMB/Ezell to pay for interns for his church while serving as the pastor of Cross Church.  At the same time, Floyd sought academic credit for the interns at NOBTS.  How much SBC/NAMB mission money went to Floyd that was not used in evangelism and missions?  Why did his church get interns with NAMB mission money, while there are 47,000 other Baptist churches who would have liked to have had them.  Ronnie released a “whitewash” paper after he and the SBC EC officers listened to 12 State Baptist Executive Directors for almost 3 hours about the shocking behaviors of Ezell and NAMB and how that was impacting essential partnerships.  Floyd’s paper was deceptive and misrepresentation of what happened in the meeting according to several of the 12 State Execs and some SBC EC members who were in also in that video meeting.  Oh, is it because Ezell is paying to beef up Floyd’s staff with providing funding for 3 SBC EC staff members?  SBC Banker???

• What about book contracts and giveaways?  Travel arrangements? Ezell sending his new VP alcohol as a gift for his selection of Jeff Christopherson?  And much more…

All these guys are tied together to Al Mohler and/or Kevin Ezell with Mohler serving as the primary kingmaker and Ezell serving as both a kingmaker and the SBC banker for their friends, the SBC elites and loyal allies.  In fact, Floyd and Hunt performed the wedding of Ed and Kathy Litton.  LifeWay under Rainer and prior leaders used to be able to make certain people famous and put money in their pockets with book deals and conference speaking invitations.  Now, that has moved to Ezell at NAMB, he has taken over not only both the kingmaker and the banker roles, but has added the role of ENFORCER to the mix for anyone who steps out of line.

Too many have experienced his ruthless wrath, including the NAMB Chicago Send City coordinator who was fired over how he reported an actual business meal expense of $42.37 for four people.  The NAMB staff member (with a wife and four children under about age 12) was terminated by Ezell for filing the expense on a photoshopped expense receipt instead of the required reporting form in the absence of an actual receipt.  It was a legitimate expense, just not reported in the correct form.  Ezell shared his pitiful version without essential details in at least two live-streamed seminary chapel services, SEBTS and then NOBTS.  Did the NAMB employee know too much about Ezell and James MacDonald matters or matters with Ron Zappia?  No worries for Kevin, just put a man, his wife and his children at risk by making him jobless and then PULL OUT ANOTHER NDA for his silence.  To date that has worked well for Ezell, just not well for truth, integrity, love and fellow servants.  Another corporate behavior to cover up wrongs and protect the guilty.

Furthermore, Kevin Ezell is reported to have told NAMB staff members during a video meeting that he has video cameras on his children.  This was interpreted as a clear warning signal to the NAMB employees that Ezell was watching.  In another matter, Ezell used a NAMB paid phone, while on NAMB paid salary, to call a 30 year metro Atlanta DOM Larry Cheek to convince him to NOT to hire a faithful minister in Dr. Bobby Gilstrap.  This occurred after Ezell interfered with Gilstrap in Michigan as the State Exec.  These are just a few of the reasons NAMB is not worthy of the financial gifts from the church members of The Island Chapel through the Cooperative Program.

Floyd, Hunt, Mohler, Akin and several celebrity pastors formed the disastrous Great Commission Task Force where the records of their meetings have been sealed since 2010.  Why all the silence from these men?  Why their silence on Ezell and NAMB failures in strategy, abuse of power, misuse of funds, broken partnerships, lies to courts, and record low church plants and baptisms?  It is not that hard to figure out.  The corruption, lawlessness, self-enrichment, mismanagement and lack of oversight have caused my church to redirect missions giving away from the SBC Cooperative Program and give to Great Commission efforts where leaders are not afraid to operate in the light and to speak the truth.

Ronnie was chairman of SBC EC in 1994-95 and reports from leaders then communicate that he wanted to make the SBC more corporate.  Well, he succeeded.  With the GCR he, a few SBC celebrity pastors and members of the SBC Cabal sought to weaken the State Conventions, Associations, State Execs, SBC EC and SBC EC President/CEO and in that, he and others succeeded.  Sadly, they destroyed trust, partnership and led us to reduced CP giving of $85 million annually before inflation, and greatly dismantled the strongest voluntary, self regenerating missions eco system ever assembled.  Now, SILENCE as Floyd “sings” give your money to CP and support Vision 2025 and ignore realities of failure from his and SBC Cabal’s GCR.  He cries for unity with eyes and ears closed to lies, failures and lawless self-dealing behavior from some celebrities while refusing to take personal or public ownership of the utter failures of the SBC cabal put on the SBC and for their personal benefit.  As to Hunt, a personal witness to the encounter has a man introducing his son to Johnny Hunt at the 2010 SBC Convention.  The father told his son, “I want you to meet the man who destroyed the SBC.”

I have told you why The Island Chapel had redirected our CP giving.  But, why did Floyd stop giving to CP in 2006?  Floyd was SBC EC chairman in 1994-95 and according to his contemporaries set out to make Baptist life more corporate.  His Cross church gave slightly above the national CP average.  Yet, from 2000-2007, Cross Church reportedly contributed a dismally low .51%, .44%, .42%, .32%, .28%, .27% and when he ran for SBC President gave .86%, and after losing the SBC Presidential election, Floyd/Cross Church gave ZERO 0% to CP.  Then when he moved toward running for SBC President again in 2014, which he won in a close vote against a mission engaged Korean pastor, he ramped up Cross Church’s giving to CP to 3.69% in 2011, then 3.86%, then 4.17%, then 4.38%, then 5.58% in 2015.  See a pattern?  Has our SBC EC CEO/President nationally been a hollow, power-seeking politician in a religious industry or pacesetting statesman that leads with courage and truth toward the mission?  We get what we tolerate, not what we expect or hope for.

You can verify most of what I have written.  If you question the accuracy or truthfulness of anything I have written, let me know.  If I have made an error, I will correct.  The evidence on most of these are fairly easy to find and understand.  If you are disturbed enough to stand unwavering in truth and the law, then you likely will have to stand alone or in a small group without the support of Floyd, Rainer, Scroggins, Ezell, Mohler, Akin, Litton, Greear, Moore, Hunt, Lewis, and other celebrity pastors and churches which are benefiting well from the current system.  Seems a whole lot like the 1^st century Pharisees and the 21^st century politicians.  Sadly, not much difference.  Too many religious industry leaders and too few Christian mission statesmen, full of integrity who fear God more than most. (Neh. 7:2)

The SBC messengers voted for you, entrusted you, and empowered you to steward the SBC as members of the SBC Executive Committee.  You have duties and tools as the executive entity of the SBC to bring individuals and entities into compliance with the rules and ethical behaviors on behalf of the SBC, in spite of what you have been led to believe.  Some decisions are not that hard if biblical faith and courage are present.  Fear makes decisions complex and paralyzes to inaction.  Do what is right and scream loudly until it is done and leave the future to God.  If not, we are inviting the discipline of God, which I believe we are now experiencing.  Let me know if I can be of assistance or if you have information to add and pray for evil to be exposed in keeping with Eph. 5:11 so that there can be repentance and future blessings instead of discipline and judgment from God.  We cannot credibly decry corruption and evil in the world if we turn a blind eye and deaf ear to it inside the SBC, its entities, and its leaders.

Sadly, there is much more!  Let’s pray Baptist leaders courageously stop tolerating and leaders start humbling themselves with repentance.

Will McRaney

PDF Version of the email to SBC Exec. Committee

After I won two decisions in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, what a few national Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leaders said would never happen, has happened.

Actions by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) have taken the future of the SBC inside the halls of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the court’s decision could change the SBC forever.

Practically speaking, NAMB is requesting US Supreme Court protections from defamation and tortious interference against ministers who serve autonomous organizations that choose to voluntarily relate to the SBC in various ways. NAMB, along with NAMB President Kevin Ezell and trustees made claims to US District of status and rights over voluntary autonomous Baptist bodies that are forbidden in SBC governing documents.

Three NAMB Deceptions in 1 Sentence

Before the US Supreme Court on May 28, 2021 NAMB Trustees via their attorney submitted the following false statement: “Reverend McRaney attempts to avoid certiorari by emphasizing that, though he was employed by one Southern Baptist entity, he was never employed by the particular Southern Baptist entity that he sued, namely the SBC Mission Board.”

There are three deceptions in this one sentence:  First, in my NAMB case involving the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD), I have not claimed that I was an employee of an SBC entity.  Second, my employer (the BCMD) was and is not an SBC entity.  Third, the North American Mission Board is not the SBC Mission Board.  It commonly refers to itself as NAMB for short, not the SBC Mission Board.  These damaging false statements scream for answers, (1) Why the deception and what will it cost the SBC? and (2) Will the SBC tolerate Ezell and the NAMB Trustees deceiving SCOTUS?

ERLC Caught Lying to US 5th Circuit Court

Former Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) President Russell Moore added to the deception when he filed an amicus brief, which contained false statements with the courts. He claimed the SBC was a hierarchy, and that the national entities are umbrellas over state conventions, associations, and SBC churches. This is the most impactful court case in SBC history, and the decision will now be made inside the hallowed walls of the Supreme Court. NAMB trustees and the SBC Executive Committee and other leaders have remained silent.  The NAMB Trustees have not required Ezell as a NAMB employee to meet with me and answer my accusations and related questions.

Summary of Beginning with Ezell’s Forced Takeover

To summarize, this all began when Ezell made false, damaging written statements against me that then escalated to worse behaviors. When Ezell’s lies against me did not give him his desired result, he ratcheted up the pressure on the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD) where I was serving as the executive director. In a period of a few months, Ezell threatened to pull matching funding ($1 million annually) for joint ministry and a few joint staff from the BCMD based on a false narrative. Ezell increased the pressure on me by secretly tying NAMB financial partnerships to my termination, according to BCMD President Bill Warren who told others, “Kevin Ezell said that as long as Will McRaney was the state executive leader NAMB would not support the Maryland/Delaware Convention and that this was wrong for him to say.” After Warren orchestrated my termination, Ezell not only paid off the bribe for my removal, according to BCMD meeting records, he also increased funding to the BCMD.

Damage Continued, NAMB Trustee Officers Denied w/o Investigation

Ezell did not stop damaging me after my termination from the BCMD.  Ezell and NAMB leadership interfered with scheduled speaking engagements including calling his former church staff member and LifeWay Trustee Chairman Jimmy Scroggins.  Ezell also posted my picture in public view in the lobby of NAMB headquarters as I tried to restart ministry and provide financially for my family.

Seeking a resolution, I sent a five-page Letter of Concern to the NAMB trustees.  The NAMB Trustee officers sent written denial of my claims within 20 hours, instead of meeting with me and requiring Ezell to meet to resolve the claims against him. Days later, NAMB had their two attorneys contact me with legalese. After 12 additional months of seeking a resolution, I secured an attorney to seek a legal solution,  as a non-legal one could not be found.

NAMB’s Delay Tactics Take SBC to US Supreme Court as Evidence Grows

Instead of seeking a resolution for the next four years, NAMB filed legal delays and motion after motion to keep Ezell from desiring and facing a fact-finding effort through a discovery phase and then trial. Additional evidence could be publicly gained from sworn testimonies in depositions, interrogatory questions, and subpoenaed evidence – people who want to know the truth, seek truth and the converse is true in this case.

What began with my single complaints against Ezell and NAMB has now evolved and expanded with each legal delay. Mounds of evidence of wrongdoings and corruption at NAMB and across the SBC are surfacing.  Numerous people have been damaged while some in the know are complicit. Some who know about or were victims of wrongdoing have been silenced by taking severances tied to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) in order to provide their family.  However, still others have shared all manner of wrongs with me. They trust me with information and/or the pains they experienced or inflicted on others under Ezell’s failed strategies, misuse of money, and abuse of power to damage people. The stories of pain and wrongdoings are not limited to NAMB but include other SBC entities and leaders. Corruption and all the evil around selfish ambition and pride have far too widely surfaced and must be addressed.

My wife, Sandy, and I never expected to be here, but we are seeking to be faithful in the midst of enormous challenges and value the sustaining prayers on our behalf. We are standing for just restitution.  We are advocating for the historic and governing SBC relationships between Baptist bodies.  We want to see God pleased and righteousness reign in SBC leadership.  We want to keep the SBC from imploding and destroying its future cooperative mission efforts.  Finally, we stand with or for all those known and unknown people negatively impacted and damaged by Ezell and other SBC leaders who have abused their stewardship and position of power.

This article first appeared in SBC News for June 2021 SBC Annual Meeting