(LifeSiteNews) — One of the nation’s premiere Christian adoption and foster care agencies will no longer place children with homosexual or other “LGBTQ couples.”
In a statement reinforcing its “Christian Identity and Faith,” Bethany Christian Services (BCS) asserted its firm belief in the sanctity of human life, that marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman, and that men and women are defined solely by their sex, as opposed to “gender identity”:
We believe God designed the family as the primary structure for love, care, and human flourishing. We work to strengthen families and preserve them whenever possible. 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.
Couples applying to adopt or provide foster care for children will have to agree to BCS’s updated statements of beliefs. The revised policy will go into effect in June 2027.
At the peak of conservatives’ support for homosexual “marriage,” BCS began to place children with homosexual and gender-confused “couples,” explained Katy Faust, founder and CEO of the global children’s rights organization Them Before Us, which seeks to put the rights and needs of children ahead of those of adults.
“They just reversed that decision. They will only hire Christians and they will only serve mother/father adoptive homes,” said Faust. “Vibe shift is having measurable impact.”
In 2021, Faust criticized BCS’s decision to begin placing children with homosexuals.
To see which way the evangelical winds were blowing, Bethany commissioned the Barna Group to survey Christians on the question of LGBTQ adoptions. The report found 55 percent of Christians expressed some level of support for same-sex adoption.
Unfortunately, Bethany is looking to the wrong demographic to determine its placement policy. Criteria for adoptive parents should not be based on public opinion, not even Christian public opinion. Frankly, the demographic that should determine an agency’s placement policy isn’t adults at all, it’s the children in need of adoptive parents.
My critique of Bethany five years ago
“To see which way the evangelical winds were blowing, Bethany commissioned the Barna Group to survey Christians on the question of LGBTQ adoptions. The report found 55 percent of Christians expressed some level of support for same-sex…
— Katy Faust (@Katy_Faust) June 11, 2026
“Clarity around our Christian identity is essential to our Christian witness and critical to the long-term health, sustainability, and impact of our mission,” Keith Cureton, CEO of Bethany Christian Services, told Fox News Digital.
“We believe this clarity strengthens our ministry, honors those we serve, and reinforces alignment with partners who share our faith convictions,” Cureton added.
Bethany Christian Services is a global nonprofit founded in Michigan in 1944 that currently operates in more than 25 U.S. states.