Bethany Christian Services, one of the leading Christian foster care and adoption agencies in the U.S., announced it is returning to its Biblical roots, affirming it will no longer allow LGBTQ+ couples to foster or adopt children through its services.
In a press release, Bethany says it is reaffirming its statement of faith and expanding its statement starting June 2027. The “God’s design for marriage” section will affirm that “We work to strengthen families and preserve them whenever possible,” as “God designed the family as the primary structure for love, care, and human flourishing.”
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Further, “We affirm the biblical design of marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, established by God to reflect His love and faithfulness. This covenant reflects Christ’s love and provides a stable, nurturing environment for children.”
To continue working at Bethany, current staff and board members must agree to the marriage statement and observe it, as well as affirm the Apostles’ Creed, the infallibility of the Bible and the Biblical definition of what it means to be made in the image of God. Currently, Bethany serves more than 30 states, employing more than 1,000 people worldwide.
The shift also means that Bethany will only license and relicense foster families who stand with Bethany’s statement of faith. Bethany also “will continue its long-standing partnership with the church to find foster families whose beliefs and practices align with our organization’s faith and Christian mission.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Hannah Davis and originally published by Decision Magazine.
