Papers
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? A Missiological Examination of the United States Evangelical Adoption and Orphan Care Movement
ABSTRACT
The contemporary case of evangelical groups promoting intercountry adoption in books, conferences, and church ministries in the United States is a situation that requires missiological examination. This paper makes an argument for the need for a broadened theological base from which to understand intercountry adoption and orphan care, as well as the need for critical engagement with related knowledge bases in the social sciences. Integration of the biblical theme of power reversal to attain social justice for the oppressed with current adoption literature is used to problematize the theological and practical emphases of the evangelical adoption and orphan care movement, and to inform Christian thought and practices related to child removal and welfare.
This paper is a work-in-progress presented here for the use of academic discussion at a professional academic conference. The author retains full copyright control of this work and reserves the right to make future edits and changes before it is printed in a final form. Please contact the author if you are interested in any use of this material in its pre-published form beyond academic discussion.