Urgent: Act Now to Defend People with Disabilities
The EFC’s director of public policy, Julia Beazley, appeared before the Senate committee reviewing Bill C-7 on November 25, to express the EFC's opposition to the bill and recommend changes. You also can read the EFC’s Nov. 25 written submission.
Watch the compelling testimony of disability advocates before the Justice Committee in our video. They oppose Bill C-7, which would allow disability to be one of the criteria for euthanasia. Also read the EFC’s blog, "Will you rise to the defense of human rights?" Your support is urgently needed. Please take a few minutes to call or email your MP to ask them to oppose Bill C-7 and euthanasia on the basis of disability. See EFC resources at TheEFC.ca/C-7.
Join Our Webinar this Thursday: The Church and COVID
The stresses of COVID-19 continue to weigh on Canadian Christian leaders. Join an EFC webinar on Dec. 3 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern time to chat and learn together about how church and ministry leaders are faring during these challenging days. Our guests include: Briercrest Seminary’s Margaret Clarke, assistant professor of marriage and family therapy with a particular interest in clergy wellness, and Tim Day, the national engagement director for Waybase.com, an online platform that helps Christian ministries partner together, and Dan Godard, lead pastor of Victory Church, Moose Jaw, Sask. Register now!
What Is Your Church Doing in Your Community During COVID?
Are you doing any special outreaches in your community in the next several weeks? We'd love to hear about your food drives or fundraisers, or whatever your creative, loving idea entails. We are searching for the next church initiative to feature in our Church in Community page in Faith Today. Let us know what you have going on during these strange COVID times. Your idea might inspire other churches. Email senioreditor@faithtoday.ca by Dec. 8.
Journey Canada Shares Concern with Conversion Therapy Ban
We asked Journey Canada why they are concerned with conversion therapy bans like Bill C-6. Graeme Lauber and Toni Dolfo-Smith of Journey Canada share their thoughts in a video.
Cultural Understandings of Trauma
There is a profound need for Christian community leaders and agents of peace and reconciliation to be deeply aware of the cultures of the people groups they are ministering among, writes Brenton Diaz in the latest post at FaithToday.ca/Reconciling.
In Those Days: Pandemic Parallels with the Nativity
“Human decrees, directives and decisions —whether good or bad—are incapable of thwarting God’s good purposes,” writes EFC Vice-President and resident theologian David Guretzki. His latest column in Faith Today reminds us this statement is as true today during the chaos of a global pandemic as it was in the divinely ordained events of the Nativity.
Faith Today print subscriptions are now free to homes within Canada at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree. Our Canadian Christian journalism is also free to read online, supported by advertising revenue and charitable donations. Have you made a donation this year at TheEFC.ca/FTDonate? We suggest $15 for digital-only readers, $25 for print subscribers, or $50 for those able to help someone who can’t afford it. Thank you for enabling this important ministry!
→ Agile Leadership (Centre for Canadian Centre for Christian Charities), online, Dec. 2
→ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (annual event by UN), Dec. 2
→ The Power of Invitation (Alpha Canada), online, Dec. 2; Le pouvoir de l’invitation (Alpha Canada), online, Dec. 3
→ EFC webinar: The Church and COVID: How are our pastors and leaders faring? Dec. 3
→ Watercooler Break for Communication Workers (Cdn Christian Comm. Assoc’n), online, Dec. 4
→ Interfaith Efforts to End Online Hate (Canadian Interfaith Conversation), Dec. 8
→ Plan to Protect 101, free webinar, Dec. 8
→ Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Funding and Management (Wycliffe College), online, Dec. 15
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
In Case You Missed It
→ Bill 21 case reaches court
→ Veteran mission organization has a new leader (podcast)
→ Euthanasia Bill C-7 will bring harm to people with disabilities(EFC website)
→ The EFC to intervene in religious freedom case
→ Celebrating 50 years of Hispanic Ministry in Canada
→ Latest Canada Watch newsletter on EFC policy work in Ottawa
→ Joining conscience with respect (Faith Today column by EFC President Bruce Clemenger)
→ Welcome the stranger: A Canadian church guide to welcoming refugees (free practical resource)
→ EFC speakers in your online gathering - contact us to explore options
→ Get your message out at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca