[VLMD]

Probably a stupid question.....
The list of info sent to people for our referal letters asks for info on our religion and practices. My husband and I do not go to church, though he grew up Baptist and attended regularly. I grew up non denominational (one side Baptist, one side Catholic, so my parents left it open for my brother and I to choose). We attended some various nondenominational Christian services in the city we previously lived in but we never formally joined anywhere. We are living inmy small hometown now, and have been here for a little over a year, but we have not found a church that meets both our needs and that we are comfortable with. I didn't want to join a church that I did not feel was right for me just to look good on paper.
How important is it to be involved in church. If the agency does not require it does it matter in Guatemala?

[Mariais5]

I don't believe our agency asked any religious questions at all. I know there are people who post on the boards who are not affiliated with any type of church, and they didn't seem to have any problems.

[cmfayz]

We do not practice a religion and it was not an issue at any time in our adoption.

[Poleczech]

Not sure how international adoption works, but with domestic, they ask the PAP's religion more because some birthmothers have a preference and that helps the agency to help match PBP and PAP together. It is probably the same with international, especially if you know who the birthmother is.

[brandydawn]

Was never asked about our faith or church we attended. Are you going through a faith based agency? That might be the reason for the question.

Regards,
Brandy

[Yelena]

On our application (the paper we submitted to the agency before signing anything), they had a tiny little blank line for each of us to fill in our religious affiliation. I wrote Christian, my husband wrote Catholic, and that's the only time it has ever come up. We didn't mention it at all in our autobiographies (although we mentioned celebrating Christmas & Easter!), and no one has ever asked us about it. It doesn't seem to be a big deal.

[curlyqgyrl]

Our homestudy simply states that we are Christians and believe in God....
We do not belong to a church either....

[SisterBear]

I think it totally depends on the agency. Our homestudy agency is a Christian agency and required a pastoral reference and information on our faith.

Lana

[WVUMom418]

My husband was raised Catholic and I was raised Methodist, we both believe in God but do not regularly attend church either. We were asked during our homestudy and we explained that we believed in God and would raise our child to but we were not affiliated with any particular child, it wasn't a problem.

[Lilys Dad]

It is purely dependant on the agency. Our agency is a Christian placement agency and your religious background is important to them. A letter of recommendation from your pastor is required. They will assist "non-qualifying" families in locating another agency however.

[jeannecr]

To the best of my knowledge, there are people of many religions and also no religion on this forum. Religion has never been mentioned as an obstacle to Guatemala adoption. It may just be a topic they want to cover.

[Payne]

Our agency was not religious affiliated, but we were asked about our religious preferences during the social worker visit and she wrote about it in our report. We are both Christians and have regularly attended a contemporary Methodist church in our town. As others have mentioned, if it is a religous supported/based agency, they will ask this question.



Shannon

[lockharts]

I am answering this because you asked....
I personally have walked a mile in your shoes. I was raised Catholic and my Husband was raised Baptist. We both had not been to Church in a very long time. When we married, we never really found the right Church either. We eloped with my (now our) sons. So I kinda gave up on the Church.
I was out with friends and a conversation came up. I mentioned that my oldest son was wanting to go to Church. My friends shamed me and offered for us to come to their Church. I tried my friend's Church. Much to my suprise Sunrise United Methodist was the perfect fit for both of us. My husband and I are both very happy there. They are not conservative.. But they are not out of this world either. They are just right. We have been attending there for about 3 years now. We started going about 6 months before we went on vacation to Guatemala. And consequently met our son (to be) Memo.
I honestly don't know where we would be right now if we didn't have our Church family to help us through these tough times. We have not actually joined this Church. We are waiting for Memo to come home to join as a FAMILY....
I won't preach at you. But I will tell you (from EXPERIENCE) You don't know what hand you will be dealt in this adoption world. I would strongly urge you to find a Church that you feel comfortable with. Look and look and keep looking. You may need them more than you will ever know.
We did and still do... Good luck and God Bless.

[annaguat]

It sounds like you occasionally attend. So you can put down ex. attend none denominational church on religious holidays or whatever fits. I don't think it is a Guatemala requirement. Is it a requirement of your agency? Anna