Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission is a nonprofit ministry that began in 1932 as a soup kitchen to feed and care for those suffering from the Great Depression. Today, the Mission lives out its Christian faith by caring for over a thousand homeless neighbors every day, showing them the love of Jesus that they so desperately need. The Mission is spectacularly successful, with about 70 percent of graduates from its recovery program working or in school two years after completion.

Unfortunately, the state of Washington is threatening the Christian mission of this important ministry. Washington’s Supreme Court said that state law generally prohibits Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission from declining to hire a lawyer for its legal-aid clinic who refused to follow the Mission’s religious lifestyle requirements. The lawyer was not active in a local church and therefore couldn’t provide a pastor’s recommendation letter as the Mission requires. The applicant also disagreed with the Mission’s beliefs, and even explicitly stated that he applied for the position hoping to change those beliefs. As a result, the Mission found a lawyer who met its religious hiring criteria. But the applicant who didn’t get the job sued the Mission.

The Mission is being told to either violate its Christian beliefs or gut its mission. If the government can punish the Mission for not hiring those who disagree with its beliefs, it can punish other religious organizations for trying to operate in accordance with their beliefs as well. This would be tragic, especially since the city of Seattle has the third-largest homeless population in the United States. The Mission, which is represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case and reverse the Washington Supreme Court decision.

Here is how you can pray for Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission:

Judicial

Pray that the U.S. Supreme Court takes the Mission’s case and issues a favorable ruling that upholds the constitutional right of religious groups and churches to hire those who share the organization’s belief.

Cultural

Pray that the impact of the Mission’s ministry would be evident to all who hear about its case and that it would inspire other faith-based nonprofits to serve the vulnerable, while staying true to their convictions.

Church

Pray that local churches discover effective ways to share Christ’s love by serving those in their communities who desperately need assistance both physically and spiritually. (James 1:27)

What is a Generational Win?

Each generation has the responsibility to protect the freedoms of the next. That is why ADF focuses on generational wins. These victories change the law and culture of the nation and are sustained by deliberate action so that the victory endures for future generations.

  • Life is safeguarded
  • Religious Freedom prevails
  • All can Speak Freely
  • Marriage and Family are protected
  • Parental Rights are guaranteed

Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey has teamed up with ADF Church Alliance so your church can become a member at a discounted rate. Visit www.adfchurchalliance.org/BRN to learn more and use promo code BRN250 when you apply.