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A wolf in sheep’s clothing? A missiological examination of the United States evangelical adoption and orphan care movement

The contemporary case of high-profile evangelical groups promoting intercountry adoption in books, conferences, and church ministries in the United States is a situation that requires missiological examination. This article 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. It includes discussion of the difficulties associated with adoption of children as a missionary strategy and making parallel the adoption of children with a believer’s adoption by God. 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.