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EFC Update Newsletter June 30, 2020

30 June 2020

Faith Today Wins Awards

On June 26, Faith Today won four first-place awards from the Canadian Christian Communicators Association, plus another nine second/third place awards. Congratulations to all the winners!

→ The A.C. Forrest Memorial Award (circulation 10,000+) for excellence in socially conscious religious journalism went to Amy MacLachlan for "Bucking the System: Can we end chronic poverty in Canada? Christian advocates are saying yes" (May/Jun 2019)
→ Magazine Front Cover (circulation 10,000+) went to designer Janice Van Eck for "The Grace of Aging" (Mar/Apr 2019)
→ Theological Reflection went to Maxine Hancock for "Still Time: The Beautiful Grace of Aging, Community and Friends" (Mar/Apr 2019)
→ Best Podcast Series went to Karen Stiller and David Auyeung for The EFC Podcast. For a full list of the award winners, visit the Christian Communicators website.

Court Extends Deadline for Changes in Medical Assistance in Dying Law

The federal government has been granted a five-month extension by the Quebec Superior Court before changes to the euthanasia and assisted suicide law take effect. See the EFC’s new blog on the impact of Bill C-7 on vulnerable Canadians and how you can help. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/C-7.

Reopening Churches 2: What we know so far, and what we can learn as provinces reopen

This interactive webinar explored and assessed where churches are as of June 30 in their reopening and what we are learning so far in the journey of regathering. We took your questions live. A videorecording will become available on our website shortly. In the meanwhile, if you use Facebook you can access the videorecording there.

Join Us in Supporting a Bill Against Forced Labour

Bill S-211 is a private member’s bill in the Senate that would require large corporations to report on what they are doing to make sure their supply chains are free of slavery, forced labour or child labour. The EFC supports this effort to reduce forced and child labour and to raise awareness about human trafficking. See the EFC’s letter sent in support of this bill plus a sample letter you can use to communicate with your MP at TheEFC.ca/S-211.

Update on Supreme Court Aga Case

The EFC is pleased that the Supreme Court of Canada agreed recently to hear a case about whether ecclesiastical decisions about membership and discipline are outside of the scope of judicial review. The EFC made written submissions supporting the challenge of The Ethiopian Orthodox Church of Canada to an Ontario Court of Appeal decision which permits courts to judicially review a dispute between members of the church and their bishop on a theological and disciplinary decision. This conflicts with an earlier decision of Canada’s highest court that ruled the courts will not “become the arbiter of religious dogma,” a case in which the EFC intervened. The EFC plans to seek intervener status in this case in the fall. See TheEFC.ca/Aga.

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.

Our Neighbourhood Is Our Church

The pandemic has brought one unexpected blessing by renewing our connection with the real people in our midst. “We are in the great and beautiful process of meeting, knowing, and actually loving our neighbours again,” Preston Pouteaux writes in the latest Faith Today.

Support the production of more Canadian Christian journalism like this by making a charitable donation or advertising with Faith Today.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

→ Worship Night Across Canada (Youth Alive), online, July 1
→ Malcolm Guite on Poetry and Prayer: A Mutual Inspiration (Regent College), online, July 6
→ Be the Church in Uncertain Times (Missional Commons), online, July 7
→ Krish Kandiah on Hospitality as Hopeful Resistance (Regent College), online, July 8
→ Online Christian Ashram Retreat Weekend, July 10-12
→ Thirsting for God with Dr. Erwin Lutzer (Faith Mission), online, July 12-13
→ Be a Different Kind of Leader (Missional Commons), online, July 14
→ Rikk Watts on Reframing the Trinity (Regent College), online, July 15
→ End Sexual Exploitation Global Summit, online, July 18-28
→ Engage our Congregations (Missional Commons), online, July 21
→ David Smith on How Technology Is Changing Christian Education (Regent College), online, July 22
→ Reading the Bible in Late-Qing China (1807-1911) 晚清中国的圣经解读, online lecture in Mandarin (Regent College), July 29
→ World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, July 30

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!