Rebutting the Christian Alliance for Orphans Rebuttal of The Evangelical Adoption Crusade

I guess Mr. Medefind, head of the adoption agency and ministry organization Christian Alliance for Orphans didn’t like Kathryn Joyce’s article . His rebuttal starts by throwing out the overused strawman argument that Ms. Joyce and others that are critical of the tactics of his organization disapprove of “Christian adoption efforts.” As a Christian, I am offended by his assertion. Pointing out corruption and being persistent about it does not make one anti-adoption or anti-Christian. Holding up what is right actually makes one Christian. The adoption process needs to be cleaned up in multiple ways. Here is a thought: how about having trained social workers deal with placing children instead of untrained missionaries? Loving the Lord does not qualify you for social work. Anyone can feed the poor and shelter them, but placement of children requires specific skills that most of these operations lack. While we are at it, international development should not be done by adoption agencies either. It’s called Conflict of Interest.

He talks about “quality” of his organization but yet does not define what quality is. How about trained professionals in both the US and foreign country being involved in the care? And yes, that means that FIRST they need to be trained. Yep, PRIOR to starting the orphanage. That might be mind-boggling to you, Mr. Medefind.

How about some due diligence in the adoption process before signing up clients? What DO you think about your member organization Dillon signing up 800 clients in the wake of the Haiti earthquake KNOWING that these people will not be able to be matched with kids for such a long time? Is it Christian to take their money? Or do a bait and switch with these people to another program? How is that quality working out for your members in Ethiopia?

He says that irresponsible practices should be “gently and graciously” rooted out? Um…why would that be again? Irresponsible in the context of adoption means immoral and illegal.

He says “We must acknowledge this and talk frankly about hard issues like how to do more to hold fragile families together and how to appropriately honor birthmothers.” If it is about focusing on the entire family, then why do your agencies first put adoption services in place before looking into family preservation?

“The article depicts many Christians as adopting simply to proselytize. This is hard for me to imagine given the immense cost, sacrifice, and lifelong commitment of adoption. “

Well one of the people interviewed, Russell Moore, Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and one of the people at your Summit VII, writes articles with titles like Abba Changes Everything Why every Christian is called to rescue orphans.

In fact on your blog  on May 12, 2011, Mr. Moore  writes this: “We are afraid of orphans. Because orphans are unpredictable. There is always some kind of tragedy…We reach orphans as ex-orphans ourselves.” This is the kind of talk that leads people to link proselytizing with this movement.

How about the 2010 Christian Post article by the Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary When Adoption Fails the Gospel is Denied   as the response to Torry Hansen putting her son on a plane back to Russia last April? That had nothing to do with the Gospel, I assure you. This is the kind of dangerous talk that makes unprepared people take on adoption.

He says, “Admittedly, “The Evangelical Adoption Crusade” misrepresents much and misses even more. It bends the intention of quotes offered by thoughtful adoption advocates who were willing to be self-critical.” See quotes above.

He bookends his with another ridiculous strawman argument “Christians must always pair compassion with knowledge in caring for orphans, and even an article like “The Evangelical Adoption Crusade” is an important means for weighing how best to do so. But it provides no excuse to ignore the cry of the orphan.”

No one ever said to ignore orphans or not provide them care, Mr. Medefind. Just to do it in a child-centered way.

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