Description: An Oregon youth ministry is challenging state officials for stripping public funding, which they had been previously approved to receive, because of a policy change that discriminates against the ministry’s religious employee and volunteer hiring practices.
ADF to 9th Circuit: Restore funding to at-risk youth ministry
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025
The following quote may be attributed to Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Jeremiah Galus regarding a petition ADF attorneys filed Monday asking the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to review Youth 71Five Ministries v. Williams. ADF attorneys represent Youth 71Five Ministries, an organization that serves at-risk youth, in its lawsuit seeking to uphold its right to hire like-minded individuals and participate equally in government benefit programs:
“71Five provides crucial support and care to anyone who needs it, but Oregon officials are marginalizing it because it’s a Christian ministry that reasonably asks its volunteers and staff to sign a statement of the Christian faith. By depriving 71Five of funding, Oregon is holding religious ministries and organizations to an unconstitutional choice: Hire those who reject your beliefs to receive grants that everyone else can easily access or go without funding. Compelling 71Five to employ individuals who reject the Christian faith for any program or service impacts the ministry’s entire mission and message. We urge the full 9th Circuit to review this case and protect 71Five’s constitutionally protected freedoms.”
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
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