Good afternoon. Welcome to our new monthly roundup version of the EFC Update. We’re bringing you:
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the latest update on Bill C-9
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the two latest Faith Today Podcast episodes on using creativity for public good and how culture shapes church practice
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a list of upcoming EFC speakers at events near you
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and more.
EFC Update changes
Today’s EFC Update is the first example of several changes coming to this weekly newsletter. Your much-appreciated responses to our recent reader survey have informed our decision to segment the EFC Update into three distinct formats.
On the first Tuesday of each month you can expect an EFC Monthly Roundup including the last month’s highlights on public policy, podcasts and a list of coming events.
On other Tuesdays you can now expect an EFC Weekly Update that focuses mainly on a single public policy issue, EFC event or research project. Our goal is to offer thoughtful content showcasing how the EFC is uniting Christians across Canada in visible gospel witness.
We’re also prepared to start sending the occasional EFC Urgent Message. These might come on any weekday when we have policy news or other urgent items to share that are time-sensitive and can’t wait until the following Tuesday.
We don’t expect to increase the quantity of emails most weeks, but with the changes we’re also adding a new Preferences Centre which you can visit anytime to choose which of these newsletter formats you wish to receive and which you don’t want. (For the Preferences Centre, scroll to the blue box at very bottom of this email and click on “you can update your preferences.”) Thank you for keeping in touch!
Bill C-9 passes vote
Bill C-9 has passed its Second Reading vote in the Senate. It now moves to the Senate Human Rights Committee for review. The committee will hear from witnesses and receive written submissions on the bill. The Senate is meeting this week, followed by two break weeks when it will not meet. The committee is expected to begin its hearings on Bill C-9 after its return. For more information, see TheEFC.ca/C9.
Two new FT Podcast episodes: Sacred Assembly, creativity in everyone
Recently on the Faith Today Podcast, Adam Kline and Jonathan Maracle reflected on the ways our cultural background influences church practices and theology. Kline directs intercultural missions at the Free Methodist Church in Canada, and Jonathan Maracle is a Mohawk musician from Tyendinaga (near Belleville, Ont.) who relates how attitudes to Indigenous culture in Christian worship have changed between two events, Sacred Assembly 1995 and Commemorating Sacred Assembly 2026.
The other new FT Podcast episode features painter and public speaker Patty Bowman Kingsley of Ajax, Ont., on why creativity matters to God, how art can be a prophetic and practical tool for transformation, how the work of artists who are Christian can reach beyond the Christian community to neighbours of other faiths, and more.
Listen to all episodes at FaithToday.ca/Podcast.
Journalists and church communicators to meet in Toronto
Two professional organizations are banding together to hold an international training and networking conference May 13 to 15 on topics including intergenerational audiences, visual journalism, fundraising and more. Keynote speakers are Brian Stewart (former CBC) and Molly Thomas (TVO), and Faith Today editor Bill Fledderus will be helping moderate a panel on the challenges journalism and communications face with the rise of artificial intelligence.
Apr/May Canada Watch
The Apr/May Canada Watch includes an update on how the EFC has been equipping supporters to share Christian principles on urgent social issues. EFC President David Guretzki also shares how the EFC signed a document calling Canadian Christians to respond to the Russia-Ukraine war with prayer, advocacy, and learning.
You can also read how the EFC marked Black History Month and how it recently intervened in a court case that will decide whether Christian hospitals can choose to be MAiD-free.
You can read past issues of Canada Watch or subscribe at TheEFC.ca/CanadaWatch.
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Victoria, B.C., Roger Helland leading Ignite Prayer Victoria at Victoria Church of the Nazarene, May 8
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Calgary, Roger Helland speaking on Stirred Up for Prayer at Apostolic Church of Pentecost biennial conference, May 25-28
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London, Ont., Phil Wagler speaking on Being a Light in Society at the Plenary Session of the Mission Thrift Store Conference, June 9-10
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Winnipeg, Rick Hiemstra bringing greetings from the EFC at the Lutheran-Church Canada Regular Convention, June 12-15