SAN FRANCISCO — A Christian homeless ministry in Washington state is returning to a federal appeals court in a dispute over whether it can require employees to share and live according to its religious beliefs.
Yakima Union Gospel Mission, which has served people experiencing homelessness, poverty and addiction since 1936, operates shelters, meal programs, recovery services and health clinics while describing the Christian faith as central to its mission.
The legal dispute involves the Washington Law Against Discrimination and how the law applies to the hiring practices of religious organizations.
The mission argues that the First Amendment protects its ability to hire employees who share its Christian beliefs because staff members participate in prayer, discipleship and other aspects of its religious mission.
Washington state has defended the application of its anti-discrimination law, while the mission is challenging restrictions affecting its hiring of employees for positions that are not traditionally considered ministerial.
In January 2026, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of the mission.
However, the full Ninth Circuit later agreed to rehear the case en banc and vacated the January panel decision, meaning that earlier ruling no longer controls the case.
The rehearing is scheduled for September 29 at the James R. Browning U.S. Courthouse in San Francisco.
The case could further clarify how constitutional protections for religious organizations interact with state employment-discrimination laws when religious ministries hire workers for non-ministerial positions.
Reference:
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