Yakima Mission Files Suit To Hire People Who Believe in Jesus

Saying they want the ability to hire people who share their religious beliefs the Yakima Union Gospel Mission has filed a federal lawsuit against Washington State. Attorneys for Alliance Defending Freedom say it's a civil rights suit to "protect it's constitutional right and freedom to hire like-minded individuals who share and live out its beliefs and mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ."

THE LEGAL ACTION FOLLOWS A RULING BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT

The move follows a ruling by the Washington State Supreme Court prohibiting religious organizations, like the mission, from only hiring people who share the mission's religious beliefs. Yakima Union Gospel Mission Mike Johnson says the mission will serve anyone of any religious belief but he says the mission can only further its religious purpose by "maintaining staff who are likeminded believers that agree with and live out the mission's Christian beliefs."

ATTORNEYS MAINTAIN ITS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT

A press release says "the First Amendment allows religious organizations the freedom to hire those who share the same beliefs without being punished by government." But now state officials are threatening penalties against the mission for using the religiously based hiring practices. Because the mission has received job applications from people who openly disagree with its religious beliefs on marriage and sexuality the mission recently put on hold two positions.

COULD THE SUIT BE SETTLED SOON?

Now attorneys working for the mission are hoping to allow the mission to maintain its hiring practices.
In November of 2022 Attorney's for Alliance Defending Freedom settled a similar case for the Wyoming Rescue Mission after two months of filing the legal action.

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