Suit was filed yesterday in a Wyoming federal district court by a Christian rescue mission challenging interpretations by the EEOC and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services of the employment discrimination provisions of state and federal law. The complaint (full text) in Rescue Mission v. EEOC, (D WY, filed 9/20/2022), contends that the Rescue Mission's free exercise and free expression rights were violated when the EEOC and WDWS found probable cause that the Mission engaged in religious discrimination in refusing to hire non-Christians as associates in its Thrift Stores. The agencies took the position that a religious exemption was available only as to "ministerial" positions. The Rescue Mission's complaint alleges in part:
The [Thrift store] position has spiritual qualifications that require candidates to “[m]aintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” “live a Godly life in public and private, thereby providing a Christian role model for those we seek to reach,” and “[a]gree with the WRM Statement of Faith.”
ADF issued a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit.
