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NAMB Declines to Participate: Inside the Church Tribunal Moving Forward

Local church to hear evidence after federal courts defer to ecclesiastical authority;
arbitration proceeds without NAMB involvement.

St. Petersburg, FL – Island Church of Tierra Verde, Florida, will convene a formal church tribunal on April 29–30, 2026, to hear evidence in the long-running dispute between Dr. Will McRaney, former Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, and the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board (NAMB) and its President, Kevin Ezell.  This follows more than nine years of civil litigation that federal courts declined to resolve on the merits.  In response, McRaney made the request for Christian arbitration.  NAMB declined to arbitrate and take the opportunity to present their case under public examination and cross examination.

            The tribunal follows a series of federal court decisions concluding that the dispute falls outside of civil jurisdiction, meaning it must be addressed by the church rather than through the civil court system. Throughout the litigation, NAMB argued that disputes involving ministry leaders and cooperating Baptist bodies and partners are inherently matters of internal church governance leaving Baptist ministers no civil recourse. The courts ultimately agreed to treat Baptist partners like hierarchical denominations, determining that adjudicating such claims would require impermissible intrusion into religious matters such as the Strategic Partnership Agreements. In response, Island Church has agreed to host a structured proceeding to hear the claims and evidence. Despite NAMB’s arguments that it is a matter for the church, not the courts, NAMB now refuses to participate in Christian arbitration and has declined involvement in the tribunal.

            “This proceeding reflects the reality that civil courts have deferred these matters to the church,” said attorney Whitehead, who with Harvey Barton, will serve as McRaney’s attorney in the tribunal. “Accordingly, the church will hear the evidence in an orderly and structured process consistent with both biblical principles and recognized standards of adjudication.”

The dispute at the center of this tribunal dates back more than nine years, when McRaney initiated civil claims.  McRaney alleges that NAMB and its leadership made false statements regarding his actions and violations of the partnership agreement, made financial threats against the BCMD tied to McRaney’s employment and continued with defamation and interference even after his removal as Executive Director, thereby hindering his ability to secure future ministry opportunities. According to those claims, communications were made to other Baptist leaders suggesting that McRaney had acted improperly, including assertions that called into question his credibility and professional fitness for ministry roles.  McRaney claims that it was actually NAMB that repeatedly and knowingly violated the Strategic Partnership Agreement.

            NAMB, represented by counsel throughout the litigation, maintained that the dispute could not be separated from ecclesiastical considerations and therefore should not be heard in civil court. Legal arguments advanced by NAMB emphasized that the relationships between cooperating Baptist entities, though not hierarchical in structure, nonetheless fall within the broader scope of religious governance when disputes arise between ministry leaders in similar ways to the Catholic, Methodist and similar hierarchical denominations. Their arguments advocated that cooperating, autonomous Baptist organizations were all part of “The Southern Baptist Church.”  Baptists have historically rejected this type of connectional structure.

            As the case progressed through the federal court system, including review at the appellate level, courts in split decisions declined to adjudicate the underlying claims. In the most recent decision, they affirmed that the First Amendment prohibits civil courts from resolving disputes that would require interpretation of religious doctrine, governance, or internal decision-making processes. This application of the ecclesial abstention doctrine effectively redirected the matter away from civil litigation and toward a church-based resolution.

            Following these rulings, McRaney sought to pursue Christian arbitration consistent with both the court’s direction and historic Baptist principles of autonomy. Island Church agreed to host the tribunal and worked to establish a process that would allow for a structured and credible examination of the evidence. NAMB and its leadership were invited to participate in this effort but declined. In written correspondence, NAMB’s General Counsel indicated that prior “biblical efforts” had been exhausted. As a result, NAMB refuses to participate in Christian arbitration, and the tribunal will proceed without its direct involvement.

            The tribunal has been carefully designed to incorporate both theological and procedural considerations. A professional arbitrator will oversee the proceedings to ensure that the presentation of evidence adheres to established standards similar to those used in formal arbitration settings. A court reporter will transcribe the proceedings to create an official record. In addition, a panel composed of members of Island Church will hear the evidence and render findings addressing both the civil allegations and their related biblical implications.

            Attorney Jonathan R. Whitehead of Missouri will represent McRaney and present the case before the panel. McRaney will also be represented by his trial attorney Harvey Barton of Mississippi. The tribunal will include the introduction of documentary evidence, testimony, and materials developed during the course of litigation. Although NAMB will not be present, its legal positions, court filings, and prior public responses will be presented as part of the record, allowing the panel to consider the full scope of arguments advanced throughout the dispute.

            Proceedings are scheduled to take place from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT on both April 29 and April 30. The event will be open to members of Island Church, guests, and credentialed media. To provide broader access, the tribunal will be live streamed through the church’s official YouTube channel, enabling observers across the Southern Baptist Convention and beyond to follow the proceedings in real time. The church’s YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/@IslandChurchTierraVerde33715.

            Beyond the immediate dispute, the tribunal raises significant questions within Baptist life regarding the nature of church autonomy and the mechanisms available for accountability among cooperating ministries and entities. Baptist polity has long affirmed the autonomy of the local church as the final earthly authority in matters of faith and practice. At the same time, the cooperative framework of the Southern Baptist Convention involves partnerships among churches, state conventions, and national entities such as NAMB.

            This case highlights the tension that can arise when disputes occur within that cooperative framework. As the now law of the land, civil courts have declined jurisdiction of cases of defamation and torturous interference based on ecclesiastical considerations.  As such, the responsibility for addressing such disputes necessarily returns to the church. The tribunal at Island Church represents one application of that principle, providing a forum in which claims may be examined within the context of local church authority. Once the evidence is presented and arguments made, a panel of Island Church members will issue a judgement, following approved arbitration standards.

            Observers and first amendment legal experts have noted the broader legal implications of the arguments advanced in the case. The doctrine of ecclesial abstention, while protecting religious liberty, can limit access to civil remedies for Baptist ministers and bodies in certain disputes such as the Preston Gardner vs. SBC case currently before the TN Supreme Court. As a result, questions have emerged regarding how Baptist ministers and ministries can pursue accountability and protections when conflicts arise between voluntary cooperating relationships and partnerships.  Currently, Baptist ministers have unknowingly given up legal rights in the courts just by serving in a Baptist church or Baptist partnership ministry that cooperates with the SBC and any of its twelve entities.

            Within this context, NAMB’s decision not to participate has drawn particular attention. While asserting in court that such disputes should be resolved within the church, NAMB now refuses to participate in Christian arbitration facilitated by a local congregation. Organizers of the tribunal have indicated that the process will nonetheless proceed with the available record, ensuring that prior arguments and documented positions are presented for consideration.

The structure of the tribunal reflects an effort to balance transparency, fairness, and theological fidelity. By incorporating legal oversight, formal evidentiary procedures, and a recorded transcript, the process seeks to provide a setting in which claims can be evaluated carefully and responsibly in full view of Baptist people and beyond. At the same time, the involvement of a local church panel reflects the conviction that such matters ultimately fall within the authority of the gathered body of believers not denominational entities.

            For many observers, the tribunal represents a rare and highly visible test of how longstanding Baptist principles may be applied to complex disputes involving multiple ministries and leaders. The outcome, while limited to the authority of the host church, may nonetheless contribute to ongoing discussions regarding accountability, cooperation, and the practical implications of autonomy within the Southern Baptist Convention’s affiliated churches and organizations.

            “This tribunal represents a watershed moment for Southern Baptist,” Whitehead added. As such, “The process has been carefully structured to ensure fairness, clarity, and accountability as the evidence is presented and considered.”

            Island Church of Tierra Verde, Florida, is a local, autonomous Baptist church which cooperates with the SBC in mission efforts, is committed to biblical teaching, congregational governance, and the application of historic Baptist principles in matters of faith and practice. The church seeks to uphold the authority of Scripture while engaging faithfully in the life and witness of the broader Christian community.