Can a Publicly Funded Relief Agency Only Hire Christians?

The Chicago Tribune reports that a prominent refugee resettlement organization has formally adopted a requirement that employees affirm the group’s Christian statement of faith, leading to employee departures, questions from funders, and inquiries from government agencies.  World Relief, a 65-year old organized formed to help the poor and hungry, accepts both federal funds to resettle refugees and private donations from churches, foundations, and individuals.  While the organization has always been a Christian entity and is “the compassionate service arm” of the National Association of Evangelicals, it apparently only recently required employees to affirm its mission statement “to follow Jesus by living holy, humble and honest lives.”  According to the article, some employees have left because they could not do so, while others have left because of disagreements with the new policy and how World Relief implemented it.  The situation has drawn the attention of the Illinois Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services, and if may also draw federal attention as President Obama has referred the issue of religious hiring by federally funded groups to the Department of Justice.  It could present a particularly difficult situation for the federal government, not least because World Relief handles 40 percent of U.S. refugee arrivals.

LHM