Bethany Christian Services announced last week that it is reversing a 2021 policy that allowed same-sex couples to foster and adopt through the organization as part of a broader effort to reinforce its Christian identity and faith commitments.
The Michigan-based ministry, one of the nation's largest Christian adoption and foster care agencies, said its Board of Directors voted to take intentional steps to clarify and strengthen the Christian beliefs that have shaped the organization since its founding in 1944.
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"As a Christian ministry, our faith is not simply one aspect of our work, it is the reason we exist," said Board Chair Maegan Schwindling in a June 10 announcement. "While Bethany's programs and services have grown and adapted over time, its historic Christian foundation has remained central to why the organization exists and how it serves."
At the center of the changes is an expanded Statement of Faith and Belief that includes the Apostles' Creed and longstanding biblical principles previously affirmed by the organization. Bethany noted in its statement that all staff and board members will be required to personally agree with and adhere to the statement.
The revised statement includes a section on God's design for marriage, stating:
"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."
The policy changes will also affect foster and adoptive family licensing.
According to Bethany, beginning in June 2027, the organization will only license and re-license foster families whose Christian faith and beliefs align with its Statement of Faith and Belief. Families who do not align with the organization's faith commitments will be assisted through a transition process.
"Clarity around our Christian identity is essential to our Christian witness and critical to the long-term health, sustainability, and impact of our mission," said Bethany CEO Keith Cureton. "We believe this clarity strengthens our ministry, honors those we serve, and reinforces alignment with partners who share our faith convictions."
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The move represents a significant shift from a decision Bethany made in 2021. At that time, the organization expanded placements to include same-sex couples in the states where it operated following legal challenges involving foster care contracts and nondiscrimination requirements.
In a letter to employees announcing the 2021 change, then-President Chris Palusky said Bethany had decided "to offer services with the love and compassion of Jesus to the many types of families that exist in the world today." Though the communication did not explicitly mention LGBTQ-identifying couples, the policy was widely understood to include same-sex parents and was later reflected in the organization's placement practices.
When asked whether the latest changes were prompted by donor concerns, funding considerations, or political pressure, a spokesperson told Religion News Service that the decision was not driven by external factors but instead reflected "a decision to reinforce our Christian identity by our Board and Executive Leadership following prayer and discernment."
Bethany leaders said the organization remains committed to serving all children and families seeking assistance.
"The organization will continue to serve all children and families who seek its help, regardless of their individual circumstances, beliefs, or background," the ministry stated in its announcement. "Bethany will do so motivated by its Christian faith and in accordance with its sincerely held Christian beliefs."
Founded more than 80 years ago, Bethany Christian Services operates in more than 25 states and provides foster care, adoption, family preservation, refugee and immigrant services, and other family support programs. The organization employs more than 1,000 staff members worldwide, and is widely considered one of the largest Christian foster care and adoption ministries in the United States.
Bethany said the transition will be implemented over the next year, with all staff expected to affirm the expanded Statement of Faith and Belief by June 2027.
"This work is about reinforcing the Christian foundation that has guided our organization for more than 80 years," a spokesperson for Bethany said. "These actions flow from our conviction that faithfulness to God's Word must remain central to our mission of demonstrating the love and compassion of Jesus through quality social services."
