EFC Intervenes over same-sex marriage requirement
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has granted intervenor status to The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) in the Saskatchewan marriage commissioner reference. In July, the Justice Minister of Saskatchewan asked the Court of Appeal for an opinion on potential legislation which would permit marriage commissioners to decline performing same-sex marriages if contrary to their religious beliefs. The EFC will be permitted to file written arguments and attended the Reference on May 13 and 14, 2010 at the Court of Appeal. The EFC will argue in favour of legislation that would protect and ensure the religious and conscience freedoms of marriage commissioners.

Should baby Isaiah be left to die?
EFC Legal Counsel, Faye Sonier, commented last week on the Isaiah May case. Isaiah’s parents are fighting to keep him from being removed from ventilation support by a children’s hospital. Read it at the ActivateCFPL blog.

Christian Horizons and the Queer Bookstore
EFC Legal Counsel, Faye Sonier, comments on one aspect of the Christian Horizons appeal, in which the EFC intervened this past December.

Useful response to the crisis in Haiti
Robyn Bright, ActivateCFPL guest blogger and Micah Challenge Canada’s national co-ordinator, comments on the crisis in Haiti in one of this week’s EFC blog postings.

Will Prorogation Bring “Sexy” Back to Parliament Hill?
The EFC’s Vice President Don Hutchinson explains prorogation and explores whether the resulting new session of Parliament will be “suggestive, attractive, stimulating or interesting”? You’ll want to read this first in a series taking a look at what’s happened to legislation that was in progress and some legislative initiatives of interest to evangelical Canadians in this week’s Christianity.ca webitorial.

EFC Responds to National Post Article on Place of Faith
Faye Sonier, EFC Legal Counsel, responded to an article in yesterday’s National Post which addressed, in part, the place of faith in the public square. Read the Letter to the Editor.

EFC Welcomes New Intern
Joelle Chia, a law student from the University of Ottawa, has joined the team at the EFC's Centre for Faith and Public Life for a month-long internship.

Keep Up on the Latest News and Insights in the New Year
Do you want to read commentary on public policy issues from a biblical perspective — and join the discussion? Then check Activate CFPL, the blog published by the EFC Centre for Faith and Public Life. EFC staff in Ottawa post about three items there per week— and also circulate mini-updates about Parliament, the courts and related news articles daily in a CFPL Twitter feed.

News on Christian Horizons Case
Did you see that article in ChristianWeek that mentioned the EFC? What about the one in the National Post? The EFC has a webpage that helps make sure you don't miss media reports that mention the EFC. Have a look!

EFC in Court
The EFC’s President Bruce J. Clemenger, Vice-President Don Hutchinson and Legal Counsel Faye Sonier attended the December 15 - 17, 2009 Ontario Divisional Court hearing of the appeal in Heintz v. Christian Horizons. While it will be several months before we have a decision, you can check out the blog updates at ActivateCFPL and still view the live tweeting of HvCH at ActivateCFPL Twitter, (start at the bottom of December 15 and scroll up to follow the hearing as it progressed).

Fast Growing House Churches Crushed in China
Please pray for Christians persecuted in China where "house churches" have been attacked and church leaders sent to prison. Read this EFC Religious Liberty Prayer Alert for more details.

EFC Stands with World's Poor
Don Hutchinson, Vice-President of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, writes to question the efficacy of the government ending a 35 year relationship that has benefited development and human rights around the world in the Christianity.ca webitorial, The Federal Government Giveth. Read it and comment on it at the ActivateCFPL blog.

EFC Comments on Court Decision About Anglican Properties
EFC affiliate Christian Info Society published this story including comments of EFC Vice-President Don Hutchinson, on the decision of the B.C. Supreme Court in regard to the properties currently owned by the Anglican Church of Canada but being used for worship by EFC affiliate the Anglican Network in Canada.

Why Canadians Should Care About Human Trafficking
Read EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger's reflection on Canada's role in the human trafficking issue facing the world today, from the current issue of Faith Today.

What Evangelicals are Doing About Euthanasia
As a bill that seeks to decriminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide (C-384) heads to its second hour of debate this February, take a moment to read the Faith Today story on protecting human life in Canada to find out what Evangelicals are doing and why. Then, watch the EFC's short video on this issue.

Withering Rights: Religious Freedom in Canada
Religious freedom and freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion are important rights to Christians. This EFC booklet contains summaries of cases addressing a wide variety of subjects – family, education, work, church, to help you understand the current religious freedom challenges and the role you can play to help ensure religious freedom in Canada.

Euthanasia Bill Vote Delayed Again - Take Action
Bill C-384 which seeks to decriminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, will now have its second hour of debate on Feb. 2 and Second Reading vote in the House of Commons on Feb. 3. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC) has produced a number of resources to help you learn more and take action. Visit our Euthanasia webpage view and download our short, informational video or learn more about Bill C-384. We have also produced a sample letter that you can send to your Member of Parliament.

No Child Should Live in Poverty
Julia Beazley, EFC research & project coordinator, Poverty & Homelessness, comments on the 20th anniversary of the unanimous resolution in the House of Commons to “seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000.” Read the webitorial on Christianity.ca or the blog at Activate CFPL.

Religious Liberty Prayer Alert: Thousands of Bibles Seized
Please pray for Christians persecuted in Malaysia where thousands of Bibles have been seized. Read this EFC religious liberty alert for more details.

Micah Challenge National Coordinator Meets with MPs
Robyn Bright, national coordinator for Micah Challenge, met with Foreign Affairs committee member MP Glen Pearson to encourage the committee to hold cross-country consultations on the G8 and G20 meetings in Canada in 2010. The EFC is a key partner of the Micah Challenge, and hosts the Micah Challenge National Office in its Center for Faith and Public Life.

Does Faith Matter to Civil Society?
The EFC participated in the All-Party Inter-Faith Friendship Group held on Parliament Hill on November 23rd. The initiative brings together faith leaders and Parliamentarians in conversation on the relevance of faith to civil society. EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger, Centre for Faith and Public Life staff Anita Levesque and Micah Challenge Coordinator Robyn Bright attended the gathering.

In the Shadow of Death
The EFC has published a booklet offering a Christian perspective on euthanasia and assisted suicide that will help you navigate the current debate in the news and evaluate your response from a Biblical perspective. Order your copy through the EFC’s web store.

New EFC Resource to Educate Young People
Not so Ancient: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, a new EFC resource on human trafficking, was featured last week on ChristianWeek.org. It is the first instalment in the [Activate] series, a new line of resources for youth and young adults who are seeking practical ways to their faith into action.

Assisted Suicide Would Change Canada's Legal Landscape
EFC Legal Counsel Faye Sonier examines how the right to assisted suicide would necessarily lead to the duty of one Canadian to kill another, and how this would transform Canada’s legal heritage. Read the webitorial on Christianity.ca or the blog at Activate CFPL.

EFC and StreetLevel Make Submission to Parliament
Don Hutchinson, director of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's (EFC) Centre for Faith and Public Life, and Julia Beazley, coordinator for the EFC’s National Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness, appeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Human Resources on Nov. 5 (Meeting 55) in connection with the EFC’s support for private members’ Bill C-304 which proposes the development of a national affordable housing strategy. You can read the submission Moving Forward Together on Affordable Housing.

Physician's Duty of Care to the Unborn Child
EFC Legal Counsel Faye Sonier examines recent court decisions addressing the issue of physician owed duty of care to an unborn child. Read the webitorial on Christianity.ca or the blog at Activate CFPL.

New Dates for Euthanasia Bill Vote
Bill C-384, which seeks to decriminalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, will have its second hour of debate on Dec. 1 at 5.30 pm and Second Reading vote in the House of Commons on Dec. 2. The EFC has produced a number of resources to help you learn more and take action. Visit our Euthanasia webpage, view and download our short, informational video or learn more about Bill C-384. We have also produced a sample letter that can be sent to your Member of Parliament.

Counselling Suicide Motion Vote
Motion M-388, calling on the government to clarify that the Criminal Code s. 241 prohibition against counselling someone to commit suicide includes doing so over the internet, passed unanimously on Nov. 18!

Anti-Trafficking Battle Heats Up
The release of the EFC’s Not So Ancient: Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery has been prominently featured in coverage of the Human Trafficking issue by the website of a well known EFC affiliate, CanadianChristianity.com. For more on this issue, also see the EFC’s report Human Trafficking: A Report on Modern Day Slavery in Canada released in April 2009.

The EFC on CBC World Report
Don’t miss an interview with EFC Vice President Don Hutchinson, scheduled to air on CBC Radio One on Thursday, November 5, at 5, 6, 7 and 8 a.m. local time across the country. The World Report will include an interview with CBC’s Alison Crawford concerning the Conservative government’s failure to take promised steps in regard to recognition of the aggravating factor when an assailant attacks a pregnant woman with intent to injure or kill her unborn child.

UVIC Hosts Over Attended Pro-Life Debate
The EFC’s Faye Sonier comments on a rare occurrence. The University of Victoria student association gave approval for on campus debate about abortion. Attendance was so high a second session had to be added. Read Sonier’s piece at the ActivateCFPL blog.

The EFC to Appear Before Human Resources Committee
Don Hutchinson, director of the EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life, and Julia Beazley, coordinator for the EFC’s National Roundtable on Poverty and Homelessness, appeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Human Resources on Nov. 5th in connection with the EFC’s support for private members’ Bill C-304 which proposes the development of a national affordable housing strategy. 

The EFC Affiliate Leader Blogs on Christian Horizons Case
Glenn Penner, CEO of EFC Affiliate Voice of the Martyrs, shares on the EFC’s intervention in the upcoming Ontario Divisional Court Hearing in the Heintz v Christian Horizons case in this well written blog.

Nameless, Faceless, Free to Counsel Suicide
Media reports indicate that the 47-year old male nurse who encouraged an 18-year old female university student to commit suicide through an online chat room won’t face charges. Read about it in EFC Vice President Don Hutchinson’s blog at ActivateCFPL.

The EFC on The Dave Rutherford Show
Don Hutchinson, vice-president of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), was interviewed on the Dave Rutherford call-in show in connection with the paper Canadian Evangelical Voting Trends by Region, 1996-2008, co-authored with Rick Hiemstra, director of the EFC’s Centre for Research on Canadian Evangelicalism. To listen to the 20 minute interview select Oct. 14, 10:00 a.m. from the audio vault. (The interview begins eight minutes into the segment). The Hill Times, the Parliament Hill newspaper, also ran a front page feature on the report.

Religion in the City
EFC Legal Counsel Faye Sonier is a contributing essayist to a book being launched at the Nov. 6-7 conference hosted by EFC affiliate Cardus. Think Different: Urban Religious Communities: Problem Solvers or Problem Makers? features Sonier’s "Savvy in the City" as a discussion starter.

EFC Comments on Human Trafficking Vote
Read Don Hutchinson’s thoughts on the vote on Bill C-268 at the EFC’s ActivateCFPL Blog. Julia Beazley, EFC's research & project coordinator, Poverty & Homelessness Roundtable, also weighs in on whether prostitution should be considered a safe and legal career choice. Track staff from the EFC's Centre for Public Life, as well as Ottawa events and news at their Twitter feed.

EFC Comments on Quebec MDs and Euthanasia
The National Post turned to the EFC for comment when the news broke that a group of Quebec medical specialists were supporting physician assisted euthanasia. Read the story here. Read more at the EFC’s blog ActivateCFPL.

EFC Blog for Fresh Commentary on Law and Public Policy
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada's (EFC) Centre for Faith and Public Life has launched a blog, Activate CFPL, as well as a Twitter account. Check it out today for commentary on the effects of pornography, voting trends and meetings with parliamentarians. Join the conversation as a Follower or Friend.

 

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