Bill C-268: Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act
The first hour of debate on Bill C-268 is expected to take place this week. This bill would create an offense in the Criminal Code making it illegal to compel a doctor or other health care professional to take part, directly or indirectly, in the provision of medical assistance in dying.
For more information and a sample letter to send to your MP, visit our Bill C-268 page.
Protect Children from Pornography: Experts on Bill S-203
A Senate committee held its first meeting to review Bill S-203 on April 21. The bill would make it an offence to make sexually explicit material available, for commercial purposes, to minors online. Read more in our new blog.
EFC Covid Prayer Initiative
The EFC has begun to offer weekly prayer suggestions at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19. While you can of course pray about these topics anytime, the EFC is promoting a special communal time of each Friday at 4:00 p.m. Please consider setting a reminder and then praying at the same hour in your time zone along with other Christians. Prayer prompts were last updated today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
Sexual Exploitation Summit
Do you know law enforcement personnel (attorneys, police officers, judges, lawyers and law students) who would like a deeper understanding of the impact of sexual exploitation and prostitution? A special training opportunity from a coalition of justice services and community agencies is being offered for this sector on May 5 as part of the Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit. Learn more at SexualExploitationSummit.ca. Among the other workshops offered at the event are one for hotel workers (May 4) and for truckers and taxi drivers (May 5).
Refugee Sunday Resources
World Renew, a partner of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, provides vital support in resettling refugee families who are seeking peace and safety in Canada. Refugee Sunday is an April event when World Renew encourages supporters 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 (available for personal or congregational use).
You’re also welcome to join a two-part workshop on “Faith in Action: Practicing Biblical Advocacy for Refugee Justice” on Tuesday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 11 at 7 p.m.
Refugee Sunday can of course be observed anytime. The World Evangelical Alliance is promoting June 20, 2021, as another possible date, which coincides with the UN World Refugee Day (TheEFC.ca/WorldRefugeeSunday).
Interfaith Conference on Religious Freedom, Social Solidarity
The EFC participates in a group called the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, which gathers representatives of 41 faith communities and faith-based organizations who believe people of faith can contribute positively to the benefit of all Canadians. Every few years the group offers a multifaith conference on the place of religion in society. The next one will stream live May 4. Learn more and register at InterfaithConversation.ca/our-whole-society.
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.
Should Pastors Cry?
If you’re a pastor, you might be tempted to theologize in response to suffering, but John Stackhouse encourages you to empathize instead. “In the immediate presence of our suffering…most normal people need immediately a God who weeps in sympathy with our pain.” Read his full column.
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→ Business as Mission Global Congress (BAM Global), online April 28-30
→ Resurrection Conversations (Forge Canada), online Tuesdays April 21-May 11
→ The Ethics of Genome Editing (Canadian Council of Churches), online April 28
→ Musicians in the Pandemic (Canadian Christian Communicators), online April 29
→ Writing Life-Changing Devotions (Women Together), online April 29
→ Divorce, Greed, Politics & Other Myths of the English Reformation (Wycliffe College), online April 30
→ Perseverance: Moving Towards Mental Wellness (Agora Network), online May 1
→ Leadership Conference 2021 (Alpha International), online May 4-5
→ Our Whole Society (Canadian Interfaith Conversation), online May 4
→ Refugee Advocacy Webinar (CRC Centre for Public Dialogue/World Renew), online May 4, 11
→ Fellowship of Christian Assemblies Virtual Convention (FCA Canada), online May 4-5
→ Canadian Sexual Exploitation Summit (Defend Dignity), online May 5-7
→ What Have We Learned from Brazos Commentary Series (Wycliffe College), online May 7
→ Engaging the Parables of Jesus (Wycliffe College), online May 11
→ How Love Transforms Business and Missions (Canadian Christian Directory), online May 11
→ Timothy Preaching Lectures with Dr. Philip Ryken (Met Bible Church), online May 12
→ National March for Life, Ottawa, May 13
→ Responding to a Critical Incident – How to Prioritize, Communicate and Act (P2P), May 13
→ Watercooler Break (Canadian Christian Communicators), online May 14
→ International Day of Families, May 15
→ Book Club on Reaching Emerging Adults (EFC/YWC), online May 18
→ Married to the Minister: Joys and Struggles (Karen Stiller/JFJ), online May 20
→ EFC Pentecost Prayer: All Affiliates and Staff, online May 20
→ Step into Impact: Exploring the Leader’s Operational Model (Food for the Hungry), May 20
→ Being Jesus Centred in a Secular Age (Jesus Collective), online May 20
→ The Justice Conference – Global (Tearfund Canada), online May 22
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
In Case You Missed It
→ Support for ban on sex-selective abortion
→ Podcast interviews EFC small churches researchers
→ Sample letter on conversion therapy bill (pdf docx)
→ Hope in crisis: Interview with Grace Fox (podcast)
→ Small water charity named among the best in Canada (Faith Today article)
→ Invitation to create (Faith Today call for homemade art, deadline June 30)
→ Nouvelles ressources en français / New French-language resources (on EFC website)