Support for Ban on Sex-Selective Abortion
MP Cathay Wagantall’s private member’s Bill C-233 would discourage discrimination on the basis of sex and prevent medical practitioners from performing an abortion solely because of the child’s sex. Bill C-233 is up for an hour of debate in the House of Commons this Wednesday. The second hour of debate and a vote will be held at a later date.
“While abortion is an issue of deep division among Canadians, a ban on sex-selective abortion should be a place of common ground. As a society, can we not find agreement in the belief that no child should be aborted because they are the wrong sex?” Read more in the EFC’s new blog.
The EFC wrote a letter of support for Bill C-233 and has a sample letter of support on our website at www.TheEFC.ca/C-233.
Please take a few minutes and ask your MP to support Bill C-233 and its ban of sex-selective abortion.
Debate on Bill C-6
Bill C-6, to ban conversion therapy, will be a topic of debate for a limited time tomorrow. The EFC is concerned that the bill’s definition of conversion therapy is so broad and imprecise that it will limit freedom of religion and expression. Bill C-6 is in its final stages of debate in the House of Commons. It’s not known when the final vote will take place. For more information on the bill and how to contact your MP to express concerns, see TheEFC.ca/C-6.
Join the EFC’s Book Discussion on Reaching Emerging Adults
We're hosting an online book discussion on the theme of reaching and keeping unchurched emerging adults. And you're invited! On May 18 we'll host a panel with author Beth Seversen to discuss her book Not Done Yet: Reaching and Keeping Unchurched Emerging Adults (www.ivpress.com/not-done-yet). Register now to join us from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Eastern time to hear from the author, discuss the book in small groups and then engage in a live Q and A with her. Co-hosted by the EFC and Youth Worker Community. Now’s the time to order the book so you'll be ready to discuss it by May 18.
World Renew Canada Celebrates Refugee Sunday in April
In the next two seconds someone will be forced to flee their home because of conflict or civil unrest. World Renew, a partner with The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, provides vital support in resettling refugee families who are seeking peace and safety in Canada. Refugee Sunday is a time to explore how you or your church can walk alongside a refugee family on their journey toward hope. Download informative resources geared to better understand and promote refugee sponsorship. Check out available resources for personal or congregational use.
Join World Renew’s webinar on sponsoring refugees and welcoming them to Canada. The webinar is tomorrow, April 14. You’re also welcome to join a workshop on “Faith in Action: Practicing Biblical Advocacy for Refugee Justice” on Tuesday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m.
Register Now for Interfaith Conference
The EFC participates in a group called the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, which gathers representatives of 41 faith communities and faith-based organizations who believe that people of faith can contribute positively to the benefit of all people in Canadian society. Every few years, the group offers a multifaith conference on the place of religion in Canadian society. The next one will stream live May 4. Learn more and register at www.interfaithconversation.ca/our-whole-society.
Faith Today Wins Awards for Excellence in 2020
Faith Today earned five 1st-place awards last week, and placed in 8 additional categories. Faith Today and all our contributors savour the recognition accorded us at the Canadian Christian Communicators Awards for work published in 2020. Full details including awards video at their site, but here's the short version of Faith Today mentions.
Lavish Hospitality: Drawn into Redemption's Drama (Faith Today blog)
Ramadan starts today and lasts to May 12. God invites us to take part in His story of redemption in the Muslim world through dedicated prayer. Will you join in? Read more in our new blog.
Does Church Still Matter, Even in a Pandemic?
Church services look much different these days, but spiritual hunger continues unabated, writes Kevin Makins, founding pastor of Eucharist Church in downtown Hamilton, Ont., and author of Why Would Anyone Go to Church? This article from the May/Jun 2021 issue of Faith Today includes a link to our 2020 podcast with Makins.
Get more unique Canadian Christian journalism like this by signing up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree, financially supported by advertising revenue and reader donations (FaithToday.ca/Donate). Thank you for helping enable this important ministry.
→ Spiritual Aspects of Walking Webinar With Mark Buchanan (Women Together), online April 13
→ Action Summit to Combat Online Hate (CIJA), online April 14-15
→ Refugee Sponsorship: Building Friendships (World Renew), online April 14
→ Safe Camps Training Webinar (Plan to Protect), online April 15
→ Exploring the Entrepreneur's Leadership Intent (FH Canada), online April 15
→ Spiritual Direction Course: Soul-Shaping Practices (Emmaus Formation), online Thursdays April 15-June 24
→ Watercooler Break (Canadian Christian Communicators), online April 16
→ Navigating Through the Storm (Presbyterian Renewal/Cruxifusion), online April 17
→ Mindfulness for Spiritual Formation and Direction (Emmaus Formation), online April 17
→ Writers Critique Group (Ottawa Christian Writers), online April 20
→ EFC Prayer: Ministry Organization Affiliates, online April 21
→ Imprisoned for Christ (Voice of the Martyrs Canada), online April 24
→ The Ethics of Genome Editing (Canadian Council of Churches), online April 28
→ Writing Life-Changing Devotions (Women Together), online April 29
→ Perseverance: Moving Towards Mental Wellness (Agora), online May 1
→ Leadership Conference 2021 (Alpha International), online May 4-5
→ Our Whole Society (Canadian Interfaith Conversation), online May 4
→ Faith in Action: Refugee Advocacy Webinar (CRC Centre for Public Dialogue/World Renew), online May 4 and 11
→ FCA Virtual Convention (Fellowship of Christian Assemblies of Canada), online May 4-5
→ Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit (Defend Dignity), online May 5-7
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
In Case You Missed It
→ Podcast with the New Secretary General of the WEA (Faith Today podcast)
→ Sample letter on conversion therapy bill (pdf docx)
→ What’s next for the church in Quebec? (Faith Today article)
→ Nouvelles ressources en français / New French-language resources (on EFC website)