Although the current evangelical Christian adoption and orphan care movement is less than ten years old, it has already attracted severe criticism. As an evangelical Christian and adoptive parent, I have been among the “inside critics” of the movement. The inside critique of the movement is distinctive in embracing the Christian presuppositions of the movement, while still offering objections to the theology, rhetoric, and practices associated with it.

Given the intensity and scope of my critiques, it may have been easy to misunderstand the intention as purely negative. To the contrary, however, my intention is ultimately constructive because I am fundamentally pro-church and thus committed to the success of the church in accomplishing God’s mission. Hence, the goal of the critique of the movement is correction and reform.

Indeed, there are signs that the evangelical adoption movement is already trying to make corrections and adapt to critiques. While such is not occurring fast enough or overtly enough to avoid significant and continuing forms of exploitation, nonetheless it is happening. Given this context, the purpose of this essay is to summarize the critiques of the movement, assess current efforts from within the movement toward reform, and propose additional directions for reform.