Pastor FIRED from his part-time job over his Christian convictions

I’m writing to you today with a deep conviction that together we can make a life-changing difference for a man who chose truth over a lie, faith over fear, and integrity over compromise.

Luke Ash, a humble bivocational Christian pastor and devoted husband and father, was unlawfully fired from his job as a library services technician at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Louisiana. His “offense”? Refusing to lie.

Luke was terminated because he could not, in good conscience, use false pronouns. A person cannot be “they/them” (unless this refers to the man possessed by many demons in the Bible — Mark 5:1-20). His sincere religious beliefs (along with common sense and science) teach him that God created humanity male and female. And lying causes harm, especially to those experiencing confusion and emotional distress. He told his supervisors he could not speak against his faith and lie.

Days later, Luke Ash was fired.

No warning. No write-ups. No consideration of a religious accommodation — despite federal law requiring one.

Defend Pastor Luke by supporting our legal fund today, and a special Challenge Grant will DOUBLE the impact of your donation. 

Luke was dismissed under the library’s “inclusivity policy” that forces employees to verbally affirm gender ideology or face punishment. But no employee should be compelled to lie and blaspheme God. And no American should be forced to choose between their job and their faith. That’s why Liberty Counsel stepped in to right this wrong.

Liberty Counsel sent a formal demand letter to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library explaining that Pastor Ash’s firing violated:

• The Louisiana Constitution.
  
• The Louisiana Protection of Religious Freedom Act.
  
• The First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

These laws are clear:

• The government cannot compel speech.
• The government cannot punish religious convictions.
• The government cannot fire a person for living their faith.

Liberty Counsel demanded Pastor Ash’s full reinstatement, back pay, and a revision of the library’s unlawful pronoun policy.

Meanwhile, Luke is out of a job. His family is struggling. And the legal battle for his rights has only just begun.

Liberty Counsel has now filed formal EEOC discrimination charges against the City of Baton Rouge and the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. The next stage will involve investigations, legal responses, and potentially a federal lawsuit. This is a long road — and Luke cannot walk it alone.

Pastor Luke needs your help. Your gift will be DOUBLED by our Challenge Grant.

Why Your Gift Today Matters

When Luke said, “I will not lie,” he knew there could be consequences. What he didn’t know was how quickly those consequences would come — and how deeply they would affect his livelihood, his ministry, and his family.

Your support will:

• Cover legal defense expenses. 
• Support filings, investigations, and potential litigation. 
• Ensure Luke and others like him are protected from illegal government coercion. 
• Help restore his job, reputation, and lost income. 
• Defend the First Amendment rights of all Americans. 

Cases like Luke’s don’t just affect one person — they set precedents for every employee of faith in America. If employers can compel speech today, they can punish silence tomorrow.

Will you stand with Pastor Ash right now?

Your urgently needed financial gift — whether 25, 50, 100, 250 dollars, or more — will directly support Luke’s legal defense and Liberty Counsel’s efforts to protect religious freedom nationwide. Every donation made today will be DOUBLED by a special Challenge Grant. Please give generously today.

Luke Didn’t Compromise His Faith. Let’s not abandon him.

This is our moment to show Pastor Ash that he is not alone. To show the East Baton Rouge Parish Library — and every employer in America — that faith cannot be fired, and truth cannot be silenced.

Thank you for standing for truth, for liberty, and for the courageous believers who refuse to bow to pressure or fear.