Bethany Christian Services To Allow Same-Sex Adoptions

Bethany, one of the largest adoption agencies in the nation, says it will "implement a nationwide policy of inclusivity in order to serve all families." WOOD's Heather Walker reports.

(WOOD/NBC News) — Bethany Christian Services, one of the nation’s largest adoption agencies, will now start adopting children to LGBTQ couples.

The announcement of a new inclusivity policy came Monday from Michigan-based Bethany, which as a faith-based organization previously did not adopt out to same-sex couples.

“It’s going to open up a world for kids who normally wouldn’t have a home, so it’s just fantastic,” said April DeBoer-Rowse, who was at the center of the landmark case that led the U.S. Supreme Court to rule same-sex marriage was legal.

The case started because her adopted children couldn’t legally be tied to both parents.

“We did get met with a lot of agencies who would not work with us because we were a lesbian couple,” she said.

The policy approved by Bethany’s Board of Directors does not include the term “LGBTQ,” but rather says Bethany will “implement a nationwide policy of inclusivity in order to serve all families.” The policy also acknowledges doctrinal differences among Christian churches, though again, it does not specifically list same-sex marriage as one of those issues.

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