Southern Baptist Board Immune From Pastor’s Job-Based Tort Suit

A Southern Baptist Convention division doesn’t have to face a pastor’s claims that it caused his termination by a Maryland-Delaware organization of Baptist churches and inability to find new work, the Fifth Circuit ruled.

The divided opinion by a three-judge panel addressed the reach of the First Amendment church-autonomy or ecclesiastical-abstention doctrine to non-hierarchical faith organizations that aren’t governed by a “higher ecclesial body.” It also addressed when the “ministerial exception,” applies to employment-based claims against third parties.

Will McRaney was wrong that church autonomy didn’t apply to his defamation, tortious interference with business relationships, and intentional infliction of emotional ...