How Can Your Church Be an Adoption-Friendly Church?
- Jan 25, 2010 -
Your church can put pro-life principles into action by helping families adopt or care for a foster child. Here are a few suggestions:
• Compile a file of resources for families who might want to adopt or be a foster family. Keep contact information for reputable, licensed agencies. Include information about the IRS Adoption Tax Credit and other groups that provide grants to qualifying families.
• Train your leaders and church members to be sensitive to issues impacting adoptive families. For example, people should be taught that it is usually inappropriate to ask an adoptive parent questions about a child’s biological parents.
• Add books on adoptive parenting and adoption education to your church library. Purchase children’s books that address adoption.
• Begin a playgroup for adopted children. Children and parents benefit from being around others who share similar experiences. Playgroups are great witnessing opportunities.
• Highlight adoptive parents as examples of courage, patience, and love during family emphasis Sundays and other appropriate times.
• Be sensitive to the costs involved in adoption. Establish endowments to provide scholarships for adoptive families who have met guidelines for the adoption process.
• Write an Adoption Assistance Program into your personnel policies for your church staff.