donate

EFC Update Newsletter June 15, 2021

15 June 2021

Act Now on Conversion Therapy Bill

MPs are in the final stages of debate on conversion therapy, and the bill could come up for a vote quickly. This is a crucial time to contact your MP to ask for a more precise definition of conversion therapy and for protection for religious instruction and parental guidance. See TheEFC.ca/C-6 for more information.

Tomorrow’s Covid Prayer Event

An EFC Affiliate Prayer Gathering for Covid-19 will be held online June 16 from 11:00 a.m.–noon (ET). As we move from large group activities (led by designated worship leaders and prayer leaders) to smaller breakout rooms, we will pray with and for those affected by Covid: for those infected and those who’ve suffered loss, frontline medical personnel, the psychological, social and economic impact, and for pastors and churches. The Zoom link will be sent out soon to all EFC affiliates. EFC President Bruce Clemenger and Prayer Ambassador Roger Helland are facilitating.

London Church Joins Vigil for Victims of Vehicle Attack

Read how Gateway Church, an EFC affiliate congregation in London, Ont., is being present in the midst of the tragedy that has rocked their city in this new Faith Today blog interview with lead pastor Rick Boyes.

We Are Neighbours: Catholics and Evangelicals in Canada

The Roman Catholic–Evangelical Dialogue has released a new resource entitled We Are Neighbours: Catholics and Evangelicals in Canada. This 12-page resource invites Catholics and Evangelicals to form joint study groups and includes suggestions for study questions, icebreakers and ideas for joint action. The aim is to help individuals from both traditions become more familiar with similarities and differences in their faith while seeking also to work together on issues of common social concern. Download the new resource at TheEFC.ca/NousSommesVoisins and TheEFC.ca/WeAreNeighbours.

The Roman Catholic–Evangelical Dialogue is a joint initiative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Its co-chairs are the evangelical missiologist Glenn Smith and the Most Reverend Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA.

We Are Neighbours is based on two earlier resources, the CCCB text Our Evangelical Neighbours: A Catholic Reflection on Evangelical Christianity, and the EFC text Our Roman Catholic Neighbours.

The News from Kamloops and the Ongoing Ministry of Reconciliation

How does God's call on Christians to be ambassadors of reconciliation lead us to respond to news about the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School? Phil Wagler reflects in a new blog by the Peace & Reconciliation Network.

New Podcast: Sharing the Story of Indigenous Peoples

Our latest Faith Today Podcast is an interview with Holly Fortier, Cree/Dene leader and educator, and documentary filmmaker from Ft. McKay First Nation, Alberta. Through her business, Nisto Consulting, Holly has done Indigenous Awareness Training across Canada. She says sharing the history of Indigenous people in Canada helps give her listeners a greater awareness of the challenges indigenous people have faced over the years.

We're Hiring!

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is seeking to fill three positions. Digital Media Manager (full-time). Major Gifts Officer Ontario and Maritimes (contract) and Major Gifts Officer BC to Manitoba (contract). Learn more at TheEFC.ca/Jobs

New EFC Weekly Prayer Prompts

Prayer is essential to any effective action. Each week at TheEFC.ca/TakeAction we rotate through one prayer request from each of these five areas: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom. We also list an EFC affiliate group to pray for.

This week, you’re invited to pray for the Senate as senators consider Bill C-15 on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Pray over the observance June 21 of National Indigenous Peoples Day. And, instead of praying for one single EFC affiliate, this week please pray for the Seven Commitments Working Group which has representatives from several EFC affiliates and is advising the EFC on Indigenous-Settler relations and actions. Learn more about related issues at TheEFC.ca/Indigenous-Relations.

Covid 19 and the restrictions have a significant impact on our lives. The EFC continues to offer new Friday@4 pandemic-focused prayer suggestions each week at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.

Refugee Sunday June 20

Refugee Sunday is an annual event promoted by The World Evangelical Alliance. Get details and free resources for church services and small groups at TheEFC.ca/WorldRefugeeSunday.

Evangelical Higher Education in a Secular Age

Canadian universities were created as Christian institutions, but sadly, by the early 1900s, the biblical worldview was not a significant part of university life. According to our History Matters columnist Kevin Flatt, “Canadian Evangelicals adopted three main strategies in response to the secularization of universities and the liberalization of university-based theological education that accompanied it.”

Get more unique Canadian Christian journalism like this by signing up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

→ How Mission is Flourishing During the Pandemic (Wycliffe College), online June 15
 → Métis Teachings (Kairos), online June 15
→ EFC Affiliates Prayer Gathering for Covid-19, online June 16
→ Why are Women Still Among the Most Vulnerable Among Us? (P2P), online June 17
→ The Social Enterprising Church (Food for the Hungry Canada), online, June 17
→ I Am Not a Racist: Personal Responsibility in a Developmental Continuum (New Leaf Network), online June 17
→ Discovering God at Work in Your Neighbourhood (Forge Canada), online, June 17
→ World Refugee Sunday, worldwide, online June 20
→ National Indigenous People’s Day, June 21, Canada-wide
→ We Are All Treaty People (Kairos Canada), online June 21
→ Connect with the Jesus Collective, online June 22
→ Fiction writing workshop with Laura Thomas (Women Together), online June 22
→ Recognizing and Supporting Vulnerable Men (Plan to Protect), online June 24
→ Let’s Get Practical Around Navigating a Racialized Society Together (New Leaf Network), online June 24
→ Wilderness ReBoot for Missionary Kids aged 21-35 (Canadian MK Network), online Mondays June 28-July 19
→ One with Them: A Day for Christian Captives (Open Doors Canada), online June 27
→ Wilderness ReBoot for Missionary Kids ages 17-20 (More Network), online Thursdays June 28-July 26
→ Social Injustice in the Courts System (Kairos Canada), online June 29

In Case You Missed It

Living Well After the Pandemic Webinar (webinar)
Bill C-268 Protection of Freedom of Conscience Act to Be Debated Soon
Community Rink Breaks Ice-olation (Faith Today article)
Lament and recommitment to reconciliation from the EFC (Faith Today blog)
Video: Canada needs age verification for violent and degrading websites
→ Reaching and keeping unchurched adults (podcast) Part One (Interview) and Part Two (Q & A).
Invitation to create (Faith Today call for homemade art, deadline June 30)
Nouvelles ressources en français / New French-language resources (on EFC website)