‘Freedom Blend Coffee is a ministry under the umbrella of Freedom for Youth Ministries. It works to empower young adults with work training and life skills that produce “development, restoration and hope.”

“Employment training is at the heart of our mission at Freedom Blend Coffee,” according to the group’s website. “We teach young adults, age 18-25, valuable customer service, food safety and hospitality skills along with life and career skills that empower them to enter the workplace more confident and more prepared for the challenges before them.”

Broadlawns Medical Center is a hospital in Des Moines owned by the people of Polk County. It is a governmental entity.

So, the two parties we’re talking about in this situation who entered into a contractual agreement include a ministry and a governmental entity.

And if you’re wondering, Broadlawns was well aware before entering into the agreement that Freedom Blend Coffee was a Christ-centered ministry.

How do we know this? Because an email dated Dec. 30, 2021 from Constance Rainey to Broadlawns CEO Anthony Coleman makes it clear:

The two parties entered into a contract that would continue for one year effective April 15, 2022.

“While the parties are entering this relationship with the hope and anticipation that this will be a long-term mutually beneficial relationship, this agreement may be unilaterally terminated by either party with 30 days written notice to the other party,” said one of the provisions of the contract.

That contract was signed on March 15, 2022. Five months later Broadlawns terminated the contract due to Freedom for Youth’s religious beliefs.

To put it another way — a government entity punished a ministry for its faith.’ Full article at https://theiowastandard.com/punished-for-faith-governmental-entity-terminates-contract-with-ministry-over-religious-beliefs/