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<P><FONT size=4>In 21st century industrialized society, the family looks and
functions differently. Even the definition of what constitutes family varies.
According to the </FONT><A
href="http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-14.pdf"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>U.S. Census Bureau</FONT></A><FONT size=4>, in 2010
13.1 percent of households were headed by a single female, and 26.7 of
households consisted of a single person. The number of husband-wife family
households was down from 51.7 in 2000 to 48.4 in 2010. </FONT><A
href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/sex-couples-census-data-trickles-quarter-raising-children/story?id=13850332#.T9AMtVKwVhw"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>Census data</FONT></A><FONT size=4> also reveals that
more than 25% of same sex couples are rearing children within their family unit.
According to the </FONT><A
href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/03/18/the-return-of-the-multi-generational-family-household/"
target=_blank><FONT size=4>Pew Research Center</FONT></A><FONT size=4>, 16.1% of
the population lives in households where there are two or more generations of
adults. The idea of mom and pop and 2.5 kids in a cul-de-sac split level is no
longer the norm.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Think about the families within your faith community. Are
grandparents rearing grandchildren? Are gay and lesbian couples bringing their
children for baptism? How many couples in premarital counseling are already
cohabiting? What percentage of recent college grads have moved back in with
their parents? How many 20-somethings are sharing housing with a more
intentional sense of community?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4><A
href="http://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2012/06/one-big-hopeful-family/">http://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2012/06/one-big-hopeful-family/</A></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=4>Sharron Riessinger Blezard</FONT></P>
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