Black Community News News and Commentary for Christians
If you’re following the case involving the Yakima Union Gospel Mission and the state of Washington, we have an update from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Monday reversed a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit the mission filed against the state after the Washington Supreme Court reinterpreted an anti-discrimination state law in a way that bars religious organizations from hiring only individuals who share their religious beliefs.
The Ninth Circuit remanded the case back to the lower court.
ADF said that the mission 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.
“The Constitution gives religious organizations the freedom to hire employees who are aligned with and live out their religious beliefs,” said Ryan Tucker, ADF senior counsel.
State and local governments across the country need to understand this.
The First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. These aren’t mere words. Christians have the freedom to practice their faith, not just believe its tenets. Christian ministries are on a religious and humanitarian mission. People who work at these ministries must believe in the faith and the mission. The government cannot force ministries to hire people opposed to both.
But under the new interpretation of the anti-discrimination law, the Yakima Union Gospel Mission would face penalties.
Mike Johnson, CEO of Yakima Union Gospel Mission, 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.”
