"Challenges Faced by a Christian Pastor and Wife in Foster Care: A Story of Loss, Discrimination, and Parental Love"
A Christian pastor and his wife, who have two biological children of their own, expressed their desire to foster and adopt two additional children. They were entrusted with the care of two siblings, aged 8 and 10 years old, through the foster system. It is worth noting that the 10-year-old child had identified as a girl. With the guidance and support of the pastor and his wife, the child began to explore and accept their gender identity as a boy. Unfortunately, complications arose when the public school became involved. After a year of being under the care of the pastor and his wife, a teacher observed that the child, who had previously displayed feminine traits, had shown a shift towards more masculine behavior. Following the requirements set forth by Ohio law, the teacher reported the situation to Child Protective Services (CPS), resulting in the removal of the children from the pastor's care.
It is important to emphasize that during their time with the pastor and his wife, the child did not exhibit any disruptive behavior or express a desire to be treated as the opposite sex. Both children expressed a desire to remain with the pastor's family. Nevertheless, CPS, along with the involvement of the police, made the decision to separate the children from a caring and loving family.
The interpretation of Rule 5101:2-7-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code implies that children possess the knowledge and foresight to choose their gender identity. Those who hold a different view on this matter are subject to criticism. Although the actions taken by CPS were not criminal, the consequences of losing the foster siblings, who had developed a strong bond with the foster parents and their own children, were undeniably severe.
At present, the pastor and his wife are unaware of the whereabouts of the children who were once a part of their family. Additionally, their certificate of foster care has been suspended. This situation raises concerns of discrimination against Christians and the unnecessary obstruction of capable and loving parents from fulfilling their parental duties.
Please reach out to the members of the JCARR committee members and demand that gender, sexual identity, and sexual orientation are removed from the 5101:2-7-09 language as children are not old enough to make such decisions.
Currently, the Pastor and his wife are afraid of retribution and are trying to get their children back through the legal system and ask that their privacy be respected. They believe that by going public with their identities will invite more harm than good at this point.
English Standard Version Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
English Standard Version Deuteronomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.
Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child.
Other sections of the same code that need addressed in our opinion are Sections (D) and (E). Many foster children can be difficult because they have not had a stable home life. Infrequent swearing and spanking being grounds for removal or even investigation seems to be counter-productive to parents willing to be disciplinarians and take on the challenge of fostering difficult children.
Those adopting Trans-children receive a special subsidy.
It is the policy of of the Ohio Department of Job and Family services to classify Trans-children as special needs children requiring special emotional support. This classification entitles children to special subsidies provided by the State and Federal government through Title IV-E Adoption Assistance. While most adoptees receive the Title IV-E Adoption Assistance - trans-identifying children receive more than other children.
Even some minority children are given a financial benefit because they maybe harder to adopt in the opinion of the ODJFS. That means that there is a benefit to adopting a minority child over a non-minority child that has spent an equal amount of time in the Ohio fostercare system.