Adoptions between churches are becoming more common. No, not the kind of adoptions that cry in the night and wet their pants.
Where mergers of two separate churches are familiar, adoptions can be somewhat different. (Two mergers were reported on in the February issue of Church Executive.) As for adoptions, one church leader says: “Traditionally the process is started and directed by the adopting family based upon their criteria and desire to adopt. After considering all of the possibilities, the family finally chooses.” But the process for Central Christian Church in the east valley of Phoenix, and CrossPoint Church of northwest Glendale, AZ – 42 miles apart – proved counter-intuitive, says Jeff Small, executive pastor of Exalt Ministries at Central Christian, where 10,000 people worship each weekend at now four locations.

J. Martin Bailey and Betty Jane Bailey have been closely involved with their denomination, the United Church of Christ, for years in missions work throughout the Middle East, most frequently visiting Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, and Turkey. They take a turn to Sri Lanka too, when they can, where they have a daughter and her husband, and two grandchildren living there.