I misted up at this news also. I've adopted four kids - none through Bethany, but it was a visit with them that inspired me to adopt in the first place. My kids are Caucasian, African, and Asian (one of them identifies as bisexual) and we have TONS of discrimination-centered conversations in our home. Like, constantly.

I understand the outrage and the bitterness. I've been calling myself an exvangelical lately, even though I met Jesus in the evangelical church. I'll share something I often discuss with my kids:

I tell them that I want them to be strong and confident in who they are and stand up for what they believe in, but I don't want them to enter adulthood with a massive chip on their shoulders. It's not good for them and it doesn't help the cause, either. Instead, I encourage them as much as possible to EDUCATE people who are ignorant, understanding many of them will never change. But if we really do want change, we have to make room for people to actually change — to grow and learn from their mistakes without fear of being bashed and called hypocritical. For some people, change looks like an "I see the light!" moment, and with others, it's a process that unravels over time.

My views and beliefs as a Christian have evolved drastically in the last 5 years as I've come to realize what following Jesus is really supposed to look like. I have no idea whether Bethany is authentic in their new inclusivity policy, but I think it's absolutely right to celebrate it as a step in the right direction regardless. Maybe hearts really are changing; maybe love really is winning. And the bottom line is that more loving homes will be available to children who need them, and that's a really good thing.