Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
The Yakima Union Gospel Mission in Washington provides meals, addiction recovery programs, health clinics, and other resources for the homeless. This ministry also has a mission to share the Gospel and seeks to hire like-minded people.
But the Washington Supreme Court reinterpreted a so-called anti-discrimination state law in a way that bars religious organizations from hiring only individuals who share their religious beliefs. Organizations that resist this violation of their constitutional rights face government retaliation.
The Yakima Union Gospel Mission filed a lawsuit to stop enforcement. A lower court dismissed the case, and the ministry appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represents the mission, will argue the case before the appeals court on Friday. According to ADF, people who disagree with the mission’s religious beliefs have applied to work there. Now why would they do that? ADF said that some applicants are hostile to the faith. Is this open mockery?
Mike Johnson, CEO of the ministry, said that most people who end up homeless with addiction and mental health problems grew up in a lot of trauma and need more than stuff.
“They need healing,” he said in the video below. “And so it’s really important that Jesus is alive at the center of everything we do, because that’s actually what makes what we do unique.”
Ryan Tucker, a lawyer for ADF and director of ADF’s Center for Christian Ministries, will argue the case on Friday.
“Yakima Union Gospel Mission faces substantial penalties under Washington state law for simply engaging in its constitutionally protected freedom to hire fellow believers who share the mission’s calling to spread the gospel and care for vulnerable people in the Yakima community,” he said. “We are urging the court to correct the lower court’s decision so that the mission can continue its valuable services.”
