This book is an inter-disciplinary reflection on the adoption of children and the issues that surround adoption. Rarely, if ever, has there been such a clear and succinct, not to mention poignant, examination of all of these issues within one cover.
Throughout the book Stevenson-Moessner, associate professor of pastoral theology and Christian formation at Dubuque Seminary, beautifully weaves stories of contemporary adoptions with the biblical story, which reminds us of a concept that we in the church have long neglected. “As we enter the family of faith, we too are adopted. To be a child of God is to be adopted” (p. 19). The biblical exegesis is superb, but what draws it to life are the stories of people in lives congregations that she has listened to, 15 adoptive parents or couples who have experienced the myriad of emotions that accompany the adoption process.
An example can be found in the second chapter — “Give me children, or I shall die!” — which are the words Rachel spoke to Jacob when she was barren. The author not only discusses the curse of barrenness in Scripture as a sign of God’s disfavor, but also notes that in all cases of barren women in the biblical text, there is not one women who, desirous of progeny, remains barren. We rejoice with Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth and others who give birth, but the “curse” is still present. What happens today, then, when a woman does not conceive? Is the implication that God does not hear or remember her pain? Is the empty womb a reproach, if not a curse?
Thus barrenness becomes more than just an ancient theme as Stevenson-Moessner has contemporary couples — men and women — tell their stories of the often silent suffering of those infertile. These stories are punctuated not only with costly clinical treatments and surgeries, but also grief, jealousy, depletion and anger. It is often well-meaning people of faith that add to the suffering with comments that, though spoken in love, reveal insensitivity and ignorance. One couple finally adopted after years of infertility. The adoptive grandfather said to his daughter, “Now, maybe you’ll have one of your own.” This book affirms that fact that the child is indeed her own.
As an adoptive parent, this work affirms and adds theological language to the journey that my wife and I have been on, but as a pastor its worth is even more significant. The book concludes with a thoughtful and solid theology of adoption and then a biblical embrace of adoption that traces the development of biology or anatomy as destiny to a different concept of parenting. It starts with Mary and Joseph, who alter the biologic flow of lineage and inaugurate the Christian era which, for those in this new household of faith, acknowledge belief rather than biology as the determining factor of inclusion as a child of God. That leads to a discussion of the insights Romans and Ephesians have to offer into the spirit of adoption.
So yes, this is a book that should be on every pastor’s bookshelf and every church’s library. At a time when one out of every five couples find themselves in the barren places of infertility and childlessness, reading this book will correct us when we utter hurtful phrases unwittingly or use images in sermons that exclude and harm a significant number of our parishioners. It will be a support to those who have, are, or will be going through the joys and challenges of adoption, and it will helpful to their friends as well. Most importantly, it will help us to see adoption as the most helpful metaphor of what it means to be a part of God’s family. In so doing, more of God’s children could feel the embrace by the One who carries them in love.
