Friend,

BIG NEWS! AU struck a blow against the forces trying to corrupt religious freedom!

Our latest win involves one of several cases we’re litigating that bring to light a dangerous trend: Christian legal groups urging courts to declare that religious employers are above the law.

Christian nationalists are pushing an extreme agenda to expand a legal doctrine known as the “ministerial exception” to justify discrimination against all workers at religious schools and religiously affiliated workplaces—including Gregg Tucker, a teacher fired for opposing racism.

AU is currently litigating four ministerial exception cases.

AU is powered by our membership. With all these cases, we need your help. Donate now to voice your support against the misuse of the ministerial exception and help AU fight back.

AU represents Gregg, who was a teacher and director of student life at Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colo., until he was fired for organizing an anti-racism symposium for students in January 2018. Gregg was trying to address the pervasive racism some students were directing at him, his family, and other students the way a good teacher does—by educating the students.

A few parents of the students perpetrating the racist behavior complained, and threatened to pull their kids (and their tuition dollars) from the school. Instead of standing up for Gregg’s anti-racism message, the school fired him. When Gregg challenged this violation of his civil rights in court, the school said that Gregg was a minister (wrong) and therefore it could not be held liable for discriminating against him (wrong again).

Religious employers and conservative Christian legal groups are urging courts to adopt an ever-broader interpretation of the ministerial exception, which was meant to ensure that houses of worship could freely choose their clergy.

AU secured a victory when the federal appeals court reviewing the case ruled that the school doesn’t get to simply call all of its employees ministers and then feel free to discriminate. Now Gregg can proceed with his lawsuit to prove religious employers are not always above the law.

We've proven the Constitution is on our side. We need you to help win more cases. With your support, we will put a stop to this corruption of religious freedom.

Thank you for your support.

In solidarity,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO