Bethany Christian Services, a Grand Rapids- based nonprofit that has provided refugee resettlement services for over 60 years, is fighting a battle with the state of Michigan. The organization recently filed a lawsuit against the state, alleging discrimination after being denied critical funding due to its religious-based hiring practices.
The lawsuit argues that the state’s decision violates Bethany’s constitutional right to religious freedom and threatens to disrupt essential services to vulnerable refugee communities across Michigan.
Bethany Christian Services has been a key player in refugee resettlement since 1962, partnering with the state since 1981 to provide critical support to unaccompanied minors and other refugees. However, this long-standing partnership is now at risk because of the state denying refugee-resettlement services contracts to serve unaccompanied refugee minors, including youth from Afghanistan, Haiti, Cuba, and Ukraine.
