Bethany Christian Services Reaffirms Statement of Faith to Clarify Organizational Mission

Bethany Christian Services, one of the largest Christian adoption and foster care agencies in the United States, has reaffirmed its statement of faith in a move the organization says is aimed at ensuring clarity about its mission and values.

The agency, which operates in dozens of states and serves thousands of children and families each year, issued the reaffirmation in June 2026. Leadership said the step was taken to align staff, partners, and donors around a shared understanding of the organization's Christian identity.

Bethany has faced scrutiny in recent years over its policies on same-sex couples and its relationship with government contracts. The reaffirmation signals that the organization intends to maintain its faith-based approach to family services.

"We exist to demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ," the organization said in a statement. "Our statement of faith is the foundation of everything we do."

The agency provides adoption services, foster care support, refugee resettlement, and counseling. It works with both Christian and non-Christian families, though its hiring practices and program design are rooted in its religious mission.

Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies have been at the center of legal and policy debates in several states. Some states have moved to restrict government contracts with agencies that decline to work with same-sex couples. Others have passed laws protecting the right of religious agencies to operate according to their beliefs.

Bethany's reaffirmation comes as the broader landscape for faith-based social services continues to shift. Advocates for religious liberty say the move is a necessary step to protect the agency's ability to operate according to its convictions. Critics argue it could limit services for some families.