Christian ministry can’t be forced to hire employees who don’t share its beliefs: appeals court

January 9, 2026

A federal appeals court has sided with a Washington state Christian ministry and ruled that the Union Gospel Mission of Yakima can hire only employees who share its beliefs.

The Christian Post reports that a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a unanimous opinion Tuesday, ordering the state of Washington not to enforce a nondiscrimination law against the ministry.

The court’s opinion stated: “If a religious organization’s hiring of co-religionists for non-ministerial positions rests on its sincerely held religious beliefs, then the church autonomy doctrine forbids government interference with that hiring decision.”

The Christian ministry had sued the state’s Attorney General and the Washington State Human Rights Commission, saying that the Washington Law Against Discrimination violated the organization’s First Amendment rights.

According to the Christian Post, the state law prohibits discrimination on a number of grounds, including gender identity and sexual orientation.

Union Gospel Mission had expressed worries that they could face litigation because the ministry requires its employes to agree with and hold fast to Christian beliefs and standards, including “abstaining from any sexual conduct outside of biblical marriage between one man and one woman.” 

The appeals court ruling prevents state officials from enforcing the law against Union Gospel as it pertains to only hiring employees who share its religious beliefs and values.

All other aspects of the law will apply to the ministry.

Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus, in a statement published earlier this week said, “Religious organizations shouldn’t be punished for exercising their constitutionally protected freedom to hire employees who are aligned with and live out their shared religious beliefs.”

Galus added, “The 9th Circuit correctly ruled that the First Amendment protects the mission’s freedom to hire fellow believers who share that calling.”

Photo: top, Credit: Alliance Defending Freedom