Stories tagged with: adoption

• Appeals court ruling for adoption agency applauded

  by Tom Strode, posted Thursday, July 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  iStock

  NEW YORK CITY (BP) -- A federal appeals court decision in support of a Christian adoption agency has garnered excellent reviews from religious freedom advocates.

  The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City reversed July 21 a federal court opinion that would have required New Hope Family Services to shut down if it maintained its policy of refusing to place children in the homes of same-sex and unmarried couples. The appeals court returned the case to the lower court and kept in place its November 2019 decision that blocked enforcement of that court's ruling. Read More

• ERLC commends Trump order on child welfare

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, June 26, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  iStock photo

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has commended President Trump's new executive order to bolster the country's child welfare system. Read More

• Baptist children's ministries plan for uncertain future

  by Brian Koonce, posted Friday, February 14, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from KOLR

  BRIDGETON, Mo. (BP) -- Religious liberty can seem an abstract concept, but consider Kevin.

  Kevin is one of more than 13,000 children in Missouri's foster care system. Kevin has been waiting for adoption since he was 6. That was 10 years ago. Back in December, Kevin appeared on KOLR Channel 10 in Springfield, Mo. In a weekly segment, the station features foster kids like Kevin, who are in search of a home and forever family. Read More

• Tennessee law would protect Christian adoption agencies

  by Lonnie Wilkey/Baptist and Reflector, posted Thursday, January 16, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Tennessee state senators approved legislation Jan. 14 that would prohibit the state from forcing Christian or other faith-based adoption agencies to place children in homes that would "violate the agency's written religious or moral convictions or policies."

  Senate Bill 1304 passed the Senate by a margin of 20-6. Sen. Steve Dickerson of Nashville was the only Republican voting against the bill, joining the chamber's five Democrats, according to an article in The Tennessean. Read More

• Adoption's 'ironic blessing' focus of MBTS prof's book

  by David Roach/TEXAN, posted Monday, November 18, 2019 (2 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo.

  KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BP) -- When Todd Chipman and his wife Julie finalized their adoption of two grade school-aged sisters, the courtroom was packed with excited members of the Kansas City, Kan., congregation that he pastors. Members of The Master's Community Church even arranged for the judge to give American Girl dolls to the sisters from the bench.

  So overwhelming was the church's support that the Chipmans' attorney extemporaneously added to a formal set of questions for Todd: "Can you assure the court that you will continue to give these children the kind of love you and your church are demonstrating here today?" He replied with a confident yes, and they have. Read More

• Moore praises HHS steps on foster care, adoption

  by Tom Strode, posted Monday, November 04, 2019 (2 years ago)

  

  iStock photo

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Southern Baptist religious freedom leader Russell Moore has praised new Trump administration actions designed to restore protections for faith-based foster-care and adoption agencies that operate by biblical convictions.

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued Nov. 1 a proposed rule that revises an Obama-era regulation by ensuring religious freedom is guaranteed in its grant programs. The new rule requires HHS grant recipients to abide by federal nondiscrimination laws, and it says HHS must comply with U.S. Supreme Court opinions. The HHS also published on the same day a notice it would not enforce specific provisions in the Obama administration rule because of concerns about its implementation. Read More

• Michigan adoption agency wins in court

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, September 27, 2019 (2 years ago)

  

  iStock

  LANSING, Mich. (BP) -- Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies seeking to practice their religious beliefs gained an important victory Thursday (Sept. 26) in Michigan.

  Federal Judge Robert Jonker issued a preliminary injunction blocking Michigan from canceling the state-approved contract of St. Vincent Catholic Charities to provide foster care and adoption services. St. Vincent will be able to continue partnering with the state while the court case continues. Read More

• He has 2 mothers to provide life-giving support

  by Scott Barkley , posted Monday, July 22, 2019 (3 years ago)

  

  Photo submitted

  WAYCROSS, Ga. (BP) -- In 1968 a young woman stood in the parking lot of a mill, waiting for a young man to get off work.

  Their conversation quickly became emotional, heated even. She told him she was pregnant and the baby was his. He told her to get an abortion, saying didn't want anything to do with her or the baby. Read More

• Adoption, foster care 'messy' but biblical, panel says

  by Marcia Knox, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

  

  Photo by Van Payne

  BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Adoption and foster care and what local churches can do to help families navigate related challenges were among the topics discussed by a panel of Southern Baptists in Birmingham, Ala.

  The panel was one of many that tackled a variety of topics on the Cooperative Program stage in the exhibit hall of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex June 10-12. The CP panels were held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Read More

• Faith-based adoption agency loses appeal

  by Tom Strode, posted Thursday, April 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

  

  iStock

  The struggle to protect the freedom of faith-based adoption and foster care agencies to practice their religious beliefs has suffered another setback. Read More