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June 5, 2018

05 June 2018

Supreme Court Decision Affirms Churches’ Religious Freedom

The EFC welcomed the Supreme Court decision in the Wall case on May 31. This case asked whether courts have jurisdiction over the membership and identity decisions of organizations like churches. The Supreme Court gave a clear, unanimous ruling that the courts have neither “the legitimacy nor institutional capacity to deal with contentious matters of religious doctrine.” Watch EFC President Bruce Clemenger explain how this case is an important affirmation of the religious freedom that churches have in Canada, or read his fuller answers to three interview questions on the decision.  The EFC co-intervened in this case with the Catholic Civil Rights League.

New Palliative Care Toolkit

Today, the EFC launches a brand new resource, the Palliative Care Toolkit. This resource, available online at TheEFC.ca/PalliativeToolkit, is designed to help us learn more about palliative care – what it is and why it matters so much. It offers practical tips and helps us think through ways that we, as churches or as individuals, can support those in our communities who are living with illness or nearing the end of life.

We’re also running a “Your Stories of Palliative Care” campaign alongside the launch of this new resource. Have you witnessed the difference palliative care made for a loved one? If you have an experience with palliative care that you’d be willing to share on the EFC's platform, email us to tell us about it. To say thank you, we will give you a free one-year subscription to Faith Today, Canada's Christian magazine.

EFC Public Engagements This Week

This week, EFC President Bruce Clemenger will participate at the annual training exercise Called to Serve, for Canada’s military chaplains. Clemenger is a member of the Interfaith Committee for Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC) and represents 18 EFC-affiliated denominations with chaplains serving in the military. During the multiple-day training exercise, the ICCMC and chaplain members of the EFC caucus will both hold meetings.

This Sunday, June 10, EFC Vice-President David Guretzki will be speaking at Uxbridge Baptist Church in Uxbridge, ON.

Julia Beazley, Director of Public Policy, is speaking at Women Alive in Ottawa tomorrow on human trafficking in Canada.

World Refugee Sunday

About 1 in every 113 people worldwide are forcibly displaced, according to the World Evangelical Alliance. World Refugee Sunday is held annually on the Sundays before and after June 20 (World Refugee Day) to encourage people to participate in prayer and action, responding in practical ways to God’s call to "love the stranger as yourself." This year, the World Refugee Sunday dates are June 17 and 24. Find more information and resources at the links on our website.

Love Is Moving at YFC Conference

Love Is Moving, the EFC’s youth and young adult initiative, is a new sponsor of Youth For Christ’s 2018 National Ministry Conference, which takes place in Princeton, B.C. from June 27 to July 1. Love Is Moving editor Conor Sweetman will be representing both Love Is Moving and the EFC at the conference.

Diehard Believers: Deathbed Doubts Among the Devout

Even devout Christians sometimes experience doubt on their deathbeds. In the July/August Faith Today, Doug Koop explores this sensitive topic and how Christians in these circumstances can find peace. Koop offers spiritual care at a Winnipeg hospital.  This article is free online, but you can also support us and receive our print magazine by subscribing at FaithToday.ca/Subscription.

Job Opportunities

A number of help wanted career advertisements have been posted recently at the EFC website Christianity.ca. Learn more about positions available from Global Scholars Canada, Foundations for Living Society and more at www.Christianity.ca/JobAds.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

Publicize your event for free.  
→ Mobilize Leadership Summit, Markham, June 5
→ Olympic Faith Women's Ministry Retreat, Cremona, June 8-10
→ Global Day of Prayer to End Famine, worldwide, June 10
→ EFC Vice-President David Guretzki at Uxbridge (Ont.) Baptist Church, June 10
→ Church Leaders Forums – World Vision: Oakville, St. John’s, Fredericton, Halifax, June 11-14
→ World Guild Awards Gala, Mississauga, June 15
→ Wonder Jam 2018, Vaughan, June 16
→ The Church in Surrey & White Rock: The Untold Story, Vaughan, June 16
→ The Ministry, Art, Craft, and Business of Writing, Toronto, June 16
→ World Refugee Sunday, worldwide, June 17 or 24
→ Our Heart, God’s Home Retreat, Mono, June 17-19; St. Albert, June 21-23
→ You Lead: Equipping Every Woman’s Passion & Purpose, Calgary, June 21-22
→ Living Proof Live with Beth Moore, Calgary, June 23
→ WICC 100: Pursuit of Justice, Toronto, June 22
→ WICC 100th Anniversary Celebration, Toronto, June 23
→ The Revival / Prayer & Fast Meetings, Hope, B.C., July 2-6

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