Wyoming Rescue Mission, based in Casper, finalized a settlement with state and federal officials that will allow the shelter to hire only those who share its Christian beliefs.
The settlement comes a couple of months after the nonprofit filed a lawsuit in response to the threat of punishment from state and federal officials for only hiring Christian employees.
Alliance Defending Freedom announced that as part of the settlement, state officials acknowledged that the religious charity has the right to hire employees who share its religious beliefs and mission.
ADF contends that the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution “protects Wyoming Rescue Mission’s freedom to hire those who share its beliefs without being threatened and investigated by the government.”
Founded in 1978 and originally called Soul’s Anchor, WRM serves about 100 residents.
In 2020, a non-Christian applied to work at the rescue mission. Upon being rejected, the individual filed a discrimination complaint against the WRM, prompting an investigation by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Service and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
WRM Executive Director Brad Hopkins defended their policy saying, “We serve everybody regardless of belief or background, personal experience but through the years, our entire history, we hire folks on our staff who share a common faith in Jesus Christ and have the ability to communicate that faith as well.”