Does Bethany Christian Services Let Non Christians Adopt Choldren From Them

(RNS) — When the evangelical humanitarian relief bureau World Vision announced in 2014 that it would no longer discriminate in hiring against chore applicants who were in same-sexual activity marriages, it rescinded the decision two days later in the face of backlash from anti-LGBT donors.

Even when Christian agencies abandon a discriminatory policy that the religious right puts so much uppercase into defending, implementation tin can't be taken for granted. So when Bethany Christian Services, the state'south largest evangelical Christian adoption and foster care service provider, announced final week that it would brainstorm placing children with LGBTQ parents nationwide, many at religious institutions that serve the poor wondered whether to celebrate or hold their breath.

Peradventure the hottest flashpoint in our national debates nigh LGBT equality today circumduct around religion-based social service providers asserting a correct to discriminate based on religious freedom grounds.

RELATED: Bethany Christian Services to allow LGBTQ couples to prefer, foster children

This disharmonize courses through our political campaign rhetoric, state legislative debates and constitutional litigation. The Fulton five. Philadelphia case recently heard past the Supreme Court centers on whether a Catholic foster-intendance provider that receives taxpayer funds can legally reject to place children with same-sexual practice couples.

But Bethany Christian Services shows that entrenchment is not inevitable, and that lawsuits and policy fights are not the only paths forward. Information technology will plant a turning point for families, the church building and maybe even American politics if Bethany follows all the manner through on this policy.

Information technology will, most significantly, change the lives of children.

When same-sex couples are not excluded, more children go placed into stable, loving homes with dedicated parents. Inquiry overwhelmingly shows that children with two moms or ii dads thrive simply every bit well equally their classmates who have parents of different genders. Delivery, nurturance, patience and everyday things like changing diapers, making lunches, keeping tabs on screen time and bedtime prayers are what make a family.

As a pastor, I know that faith is what drives Christian organizations to be deeply involved in adoption and foster care services — Jesus' telephone call to dear our neighbors equally ourselves, his dearest for children. His admonition that how nosotros treat the least amid us is how we care for the Son of God is a articulate committee to give every kid a good home.

Christians in the pews also believe in equality. Public Faith Research Institute polling shows that lxx% of Americans oppose assuasive taxpayer-funded agencies to refuse placing foster children with qualified gay and lesbian couples. The few Bible verses that address sexual orientation are vastly removed from the context of modern family unit life, and Scripture includes non a single word in condemnation of committed, faithful aforementioned-gender couples.

RELATED: Supreme Court hears example pitting religious freedom against LGBTQ rights

The Rev. Jennifer Butler. Photo by David F. Choy

Many Christians believe this too: If Bethany Christian Services' new policy of nondiscrimination sticks and spreads, the empathetic face of the church will smoothen brighter. It'south a sign that brighter days are ahead for the church and the country.

(The Rev. Jennifer Butler is CEO of Faith in Public Life, a nationwide network of over 50,000 faith leaders, and was chair of the President'due south Advisory Quango on Organized religion-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships under the Obama assistants. She is the author of "Who Stole My Bible: Reclaiming Scripture equally a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny." The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.)