Welcome to the first Tuesday of the month, when we sum up the last four weeks or so. Today we’ve got:
- the EFC’s response to the hate crimes bill becoming law
- encouraging news about stopping euthanasia for mental illness
- an updated practical booklet on refugee resettlement
- our latest blogs, podcasts and events.
Click below for a shareable video of our top three headlines for the month. On other Tuesdays of the month we send an EFC Update consisting of a single-topic article. Email recipients can opt in or out of our different newsletter formats using the preferences link at the end of their email.
Freedom of religion after Bill C-9
Bill C-9, the hate crimes bill, has become law. The bill removes the religious belief defence from the Criminal Code. This was an important safeguard for religious expression, but its removal does not criminalize reading or teaching from Scripture. We will be monitoring the effects of the change in law and continuing to advocate for freedom of religion and belief.
Halt on MAiD for mental illness?
A special parliamentary committee on MAiD has recommended an indefinite pause on MAiD for mental illness. The government will decide whether to accept this recommendation and introduce a bill to stop the expansion.
Updated booklet on refugee resettlement
The EFC has just published a revised edition of Welcome the Stranger: A Canadian Church Guide to Welcoming Refugees in partnership with the Refugee Resettlement Roundtable.
The Roundtable, a group of denominations and faith-based organizations, first produced this practical booklet in 2020 to help private sponsors welcome and settle individuals and families new to Canada.
The revised edition is 68-pages, available in print or PDF download, and includes four new personal stories, two by sponsors and two by sponsored refugees. It also has updated facts and statistics about the world’s refugee population and refugee sponsorship within Canada.
Latest podcasts: Global hunger, summer listening, reconciling
Andy Harrington of Canadian Foodgrains Bank joined the Faith Today Podcast recently to talk about the challenging state of global aid work, government funding and how Canadians can respond. CFB is a partnership of 15 Canadian churches and agencies working together to end global hunger.
To end the season at the Faith Today Podcast, coordinator Sammy Kyereme and host Bill Fledderus reflected on the podcast conversations they’ve had this year in a short recap episode that can give you good ideas for summer listening.
The latest episode in All Things Reconciled, a podcast by the Peace and Reconciliation Network, features South African pastor Takalani Isaac. He shares his journey of discovering the power of God to heal the anger and trauma caused by apartheid and torture.
Find all five EFC-related podcast series at TheEFC.ca/Podcasts. Most recent Faith Today Podcast episodes are also available on video at both FaithToday.tv and YouTube.com/@faithtodaycanada.
Latest blogs: Spiritual growth through education, loving our international neighbours
Christ-centred postsecondary education is one of the most effective contributors to spiritual growth, writes B.C. scholar Gordon T. Smith in a short essay at FaithToday.ca.
Loving our neighbour is not a local-only proposition, writes Ontario pastor Dave Carrol in a reflection at FaithToday.ca on the similarities in building and sustaining healthcare systems in Canada and Kenya.
In light of World Refugee Day, an author from the faith-based organization Citizens for Public Justice reflects on what Canadian churches are called to do for migrants and refugees.
At the EFC website our three most recent blogs are:
EFC staff out and about
Beulah Family Camp, Julia Beazley (director, public policy) giving a workshop, July 8
Atlantic District of the Wesleyan Church, Julia Beazley speaking to the district conference; Julia Beazley and Beth Hiemstra (public policy analyst) giving workshops, July 9
Virtual workshop with Berean Church of God International Edmonton, Phil Wagler (global liaison) on Seeking the City's Best, July 11