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EFC Update Newsletter, June 2, 2020

02 June 2020

EFC Statement on Racism

The EFC condemns racism and its underlying denial that all people are loved by God, are created in His image, and have equal dignity and value.

Racism is a form of discrimination that values and privileges some groups of people above others and denies the personhood of some based on skin colour, descent, national or ethnic origin.

We call upon churches to combat racism and its related attitudes and injustices. We join in the collective grief and lament of so many that this problem, with its horrible implications and impact on the lives of so many, continues on.

Read the full statement on the EFC’s website.

EFC Webinar: Reopening Churches: Sharing Ideas, Advice and Experience

As provincial governments gradually lift restrictions on public worship gatherings, join us for an interactive EFC webinar on June 3 at noon Eastern Time. We will speak with churches east and west, large and small, along with other experts to help us all as we enter this new phase of COVID-19. 

Our host Karen Stiller will chat with guests including EFC President Bruce Clemenger; Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer for the Northwest Territories; Dan Godard, lead pastor of Victory Church, Moose Jaw, Sask.; Troy Matchett, pastor of Église de la Grace/Grace Church, Bouctouche, N.B.; and Rick Burdett, COO of Outreach Canada Ministries.

During the webinar, you can type in questions and comments and get live answers from our guests. You can also send questions ahead of time by email if you like. Register now for this webinar to get a reminder email. Share our Facebook event. Or simply join us at the start at www.TheEFC.ca/Live

Join Us in Asking for Support for Trafficking Survivors

The EFC is concerned that funding for several programs to help women and girls escape sexual exploitation and trafficking will be discontinued. Read the EFC’s letter to several Cabinet ministers. Join us in advocating for trafficking survivors. This email template is pre-addressed to the relevant MPs with suggested text you can adapt and send.

Dispatch from WEA Global Ambassador: Hope in Crisis—Episode 4

In the latest instalment of his Hope in Crisis series, Brian Stiller reminds us that the “storm” of this pandemic will not last forever.

“Storms and destruction will from time to time, sweep across the landscapes of our lives and homes. As hurtful as they are, they won’t last forever. God is creator, sustainer and king. This is His creation, and nothing takes Him by surprise.”

New Podcast: The Church as Chaplain

David Guretzki, the EFC’s vice-president and resident theologian, considers what the Canadian Church can learn from the style of ministry typically practised by chaplains. You can read all of David Guretzki's columns by subscribing to Faith Today magazine.

Print Subscriptions Now Free in Canada

Canadian print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free as of May 1, 2020! Find out why Christians across more than 40 denominations have trusted our periodicals for more than 40 years. Existing subscribers will be automatically transferred to the new free subscriptions. If you don’t already get our print magazines, sign up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.

Viral Church

“By no means do I claim to know the mind of God on COVID-19. Yet I can’t help wondering whether He is using it to help us get better at being the Church when we aren’t together, no matter the reason.” EFC Vice-President and Resident Theologian David Guretzki reflects on the church “going online” and how it unexpectedly allows us to refocus on the true role of the church. 

Support the production of more Canadian Christian journalism like this by donating to the EFC or advertising with us 

World Refugee Sunday

Around the world, over 70 million people have no place to call home. World Refugee Sunday, held on two consecutive Sundays (June 14 or 21) is commemorated by the Refugee Highway Partnership in cooperation with the World Evangelical Alliance to raise awareness of and prayer for the situation of refugees and internally displaced peoples around the world. 

The EFC invites you to participate in remembering those who are persecuted and oppressed globally. Since in-person gatherings are presently restricted, we suggest you find opportunities for individual prayer, reflection and response, or incorporate items into online church services. You can find additional information and resources on our website

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

→ EFC webinar: Re-opening Churches, online, June 3
→ What to Do After Youth Alpha?, online, June 3
→ CCCC Webinar: Ministry Work and Your Mental Health, June 3
→ NAIITS Symposium Online (annual Indigenous theology conf.), online, June 4-6
→ The Big Give 2020, nationwide, June 6
→ Ending Poverty Together Online Workshop, June 11
→ The Word Awards, online, June 13
→ World Refugee Sunday, June 14, June 21; World Refugee Day, June 20
→ Serious About Safety? Free Five-Day Workshop from Plan to Protect, online, June 15-19 
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online, June 19
→ National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada-wide, June 21 
→ Christian Communicators Awards of Merit 2020, Zoom and Facebook Live, June 26

Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.

An Online Seminary Course? Why Not? 

Online course registrations are now open for many seminaries and Christian postsecondary institutions. Several are listed on our online calendar (TheEFC.ca/Calendar). Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more learning opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses and choose for example from 118 undergraduate courses available in summer 2020.  

In Case You Missed It

The EFC’s curated collection of pandemic resources for churches (contributions welcome)
Getting reconciliation rolling (new blog series)
Youth Ministry in COVID-19 (EFC podcast)
The Virus and World Religions (Faith Today article)
Dispatch from Brian Stiller: Hope in Crisis—Episode 3