Die pastorale begeleiding van die aangenome kind met betrekking tot die Vaderskap van God

Abstract

Pastoral guidance of the adopted child with regard to the Fatherhood of God

In this article the significance of the Fatherhood of God for adopted children and the way they may be guided pastorally, is researched. The ongoing debate regarding adopted children and specific issues with them, like identity, rejection and loss, will be discussed. The father-image adopted children have of the biological and the adoptive father is respectively investigated, followed by a discussion of how the adopted child’s image of God may be influenced by the image of an earthly father. Guidelines for the pastoral guidance regarding the Fatherhood of God and the forming of identity, as well as dealing with rejection and loss, are given. The article ends with some conclusions.