Perspectives Regarding Motivations for Adoption by Christian Adoptive Parents from Communities of Color

Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological approach within a Caucasian sample of evangelical Christian parents with adopted children, researchers Firmin and colleagues identified the following themes related to perspectives about theological motivations to adopt: 1) biblical mandate, 2) ministry, 3) a result of spiritual adoption, 4) views toward God’s blessings, and 5) Christian romanticization of adoption. To address the lack of diversity within the original sample, the current authors sought to expand the original study by recruiting additional Christian adoptive parents who identified as being from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds. Replicating the qualitative phenomenological methodology, we interviewed five additional families; we compared and contrasted themes that emerged. Findings highlighted the identification of two nuanced themes associated with motivations to adopt among parents of color: 1) adoption due to experiential relationship to God and 2) attunement to a need.