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EFC Update Newsletter June 16, 2020

16 June 2020

2020 Virtual NAITTS Symposium

From June 4-6, several EFC staff participated in the 2020 virtual NAIITS Symposium. During the symposium, the EFC’s Indigenous Settler Relations Working Group presented a paper, Stewarding Sacred Seeds, which will be published in Journal of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. In the paper, the Working Group looks back at the history of the EFC’s engagement in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and recommends a number of actions to be taken by the EFC in pursuit of reconciliation and right relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. For more information, visit the new Indigenous Relations page on the EFC's website.

Bill C-219 on Sexual Exploitation Penalty

Bill C-219 is a private member’s bill that would increase the penalty for sexual exploitation of a young person in a relationship of dependency or a person with a disability. See EFC’s letter in support of Bill C-219. Send a letter to your MP: pdf or docx

For more information on how a bill becomes law and how to be involved, see our one-page pdf diagram and our 11-page Civic Engagement Kit.

Next Webinar: Reopening Churches (Part 2)

Reopening Churches: What we do know so far, and what can we learn as provinces re-open? On June 30, join us for our webinar with Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer, Northwest Territories; Bruce Clemenger, president of the EFC; and other guests. This interactive webinar will explore and assess where churches are as of June 30 in their re-opening, what we are learning so far in the journey of regathering and take your questions live. 

Register now to join us Tuesday, June 30 at noon EDT. Visit our webinars page to watch our June 3 webinar on Reopening Churches: Sharing Ideas, Advice and Experience.

Bill C-233 on Sex-Selective Abortion

Bill C-233 is a private member’s bill that would prohibit medical practitioners from performing an abortion knowing that the abortion is solely due to the child’s genetic sex. The EFC recently sent a letter supporting the bill to the MP who proposed it and prepared a sample letter you can use for contacting your MP (pdf or docx). See TheEFC.ca/C-233.

Send Us Photos of Your Church Reopening

It’s official—churches across Canada are reopening. We’d love to see how your church is doing this! Send us a photo of your regathering so we can share it on social media.

Still Time to Speak Out Against Loosening Euthanasia Law

Changes to Canada's euthanasia law were originally due by a court-imposed deadline of June 11, but the federal government has asked for an extension until Dec. 18, according to a report by Canadian Catholic News. So there is still time to express your concern on this issue to your MP using the sample letter and other helpful resources at www.TheEFC.ca/C-7.

Persuasion Is Good, but Mobilization Is Better

How well are we doing at equipping God’s people for service? Our columnist John Stackhouse calls on Christian leaders to find ways to “mobilize the already persuaded for ministry and toward maturity.”

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

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

→ Serious About Safety? Free Five-Day Workshop from Plan to Protect, online, June 15-19 
→ Intersection Online for Missions/Parachurch Leaders, June 17
→ World Refugee Sunday, June 14, June 21; World Refugee Day, June 20
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online, June 19
→ National Indigenous Peoples Day, Canada-wide, June 21
→ Talking Our Walk: Cultivating Sacred Consciousness (Regent College), online, June 22
→ When Christians Disagree (Regent College), online, June 24
→ Christian Communicators Awards of Merit 2020, online, June 26
→ Men Under Construction—Rebuilding the Foundation (COG Ontario), online, June 27
→ Flannery O’Connor & the Sin of Sentimentality (Regent College), online, June 29
→ EFC Webinar: Reopening Churches Part 2, June 30
→ Malcolm Guite on Poetry and Prayer: A Mutual Inspiration (Regent College), online, July 6
→ A Relentless Revolution of Love: Hospitality as Hopeful Resistance (Regent College), online, July 8
→ Online Christian Ashram (BC/Ontario), July 10-July 12

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 at TheEFC.ca/Calendar. Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses.

EFC Speakers in Your Online Gathering?

The EFC has local ambassadors in many Canadian provinces and expert staff on a variety of topics. One of them would be delighted to make a live interactive presentation during an online gathering of your community, or to record a video message for your online church service, conference or small group. Learn more about our speakers, including ambassadors based in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, at TheEFC.ca/Speakers. In addition to the list of topics you’ll find there, including social issues from euthanasia to refugees to prostitution, and ministry issues from adoption to youth ministry, speakers are glad to consider requests to speak on unlisted topics. Request a speaker now!

In Case You Missed It

→ New National Association of Evangelicals (in the United States) video statement (and transcript) on racial justice and equality. (And see EFC statement on racism from earlier this month.)
→ Faith Today blog: Dear church, about living on $2,000 a month or less
→ Faith Today blog: Creative lockdown ideas
→ Faith Today blog: Reopening our homes and churches – and our hearts
→ Faith Today blog: No more drumming up peace
→ Home print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free in Canada at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
→ Get your message out at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca
Carolyn Arends on Singing and Not Singing in Church (Faith Today article)
EFC June 3 Webinar: Reopening Churches: Sharing Ideas, Advice and Experience
Dispatch from WEA Global Ambassador: Hope in Crisis—Episode 5