LGBTQ Adoptions at a Christian Agency? They Finally Fixed It – SBC Bans Women Pastors

In this episode of Ask A Christian Podcast, host Nate and guests dig into some spicy news dropped by Protestia after a full week of radio silence. Three big stories, one surprisingly civilized conversation. First up: Bethany Christian Services, the largest Christian adoption agency in the U.S., has officially walked back its 2020 decision to allow LGBTQ couples to adopt — reaffirming its Christian identity after a wild six-year detour involving anti-racism trainings, government funding threats, and some very creative theology. Nate and Michael also get into why adoption in America costs anywhere from $5,000 to $85,000, what Canada's doing differently, and whether Christians are doing enough to actually adopt. Then: the Southern Baptist Convention voted 4-to-1 to prohibit women pastors at their annual meeting, passing Al Mohler's "Truth and Unity Amendment" — which now heads to next year's meeting for ratification. Because apparently nothing in the SBC can happen in less than two years. Nate gives his biblical case for male pastoral leadership, Connie gives her unfiltered thoughts on bad male pastors (fair point), and Michael watches from the atheist bleachers. The crew also wades into Gen Z's church resurgence, why Christian community beats atheist megachurches, the baker vs. gay wedding cake debate, and an atheist TikToker who thinks she can opt out of sin — and therefore hell — by simply leaving Christianity. (Spoiler: God's not checking your affiliation box.) Plus a quick sidebar on White House renovation costs, Trump vs. Iran, and the eternal mystery of where everyone was today. 📚 Resources & Links: Bethany Christian Services story: https://protestia.com/2026/06/11/largest-christian-adoption-agency-bethany-services-walks-back-allowing-lgbtq-adoptions-reaffirms-christian-faith/ Southern Baptists vote on women pastors: https://protestia.com/2026/06/11/at-annual-meeting-southern-baptists-overwhelmingly-vote-to-prohibit-women-pastors/ For more content, visit: https://www.askachristianpodcast.com TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro & housekeeping 03:31 - Bethany Christian Services walks back LGBTQ adoptions 11:15 - Adoption costs in the U.S. vs. Canada 24:50 - Southern Baptists vote to prohibit women pastors 28:22 - Nate's biblical case for male pastoral leadership 31:32 - Connie's take: bad pastors and church hurt 38:00 - Are churches exploiting new converts for free labor? 44:06 - Gen Z church resurgence & community vs. belief 46:00 - Atheist megachurches and Christian community 48:08 - White House renovations & UFC 250 cost discussion 52:03 - Trump, Iran, and government spending 1:00:00 - Atheist TikToker: "I left Christianity so I can't sin" 1:02:13 - Michael and Nate respond to the sin/hell opt-out argument HASHTAGS #AskAChristianPodcast #Christianity #Bible #SouthernBaptist #WomenPastors #ChristianAdoption #ChristianApologetics #Apologetics #Faith #BibleStudy #ChristianLife #ChurchDebate #Atheism #Jesus #GenZChurch