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March 24, 2015

23 March 2015

THE EFC UPDATE - 2015.03.24
Together for influence, impact and identity

Sign up to receive the EFC Update via email every Tuesday to keep up with current news from The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AFFIRMED IN LOYOLA SCHOOL CASE
Last week’s Supreme Court decision in the Loyola case is good news for faith-based schools and also churches and other religious ministries. The case, including a legal intervention by the EFC, considered whether private religious schools can be compelled to teach a provincial religion and ethics curriculum from a non-religious perspective. The result is a “strong affirmation of religious freedom,” says EFC President Bruce Clemenger. Visit theEFC.ca/LoyolaCommentary for his latest thoughts (just published a few minutes ago) on what these developments mean for Canadian Christians.

BRIDGING THE RELIGIOUS-SECULAR DIVIDE
Our Whole Society is an EFC-sponsored a conference on religion in the public square March 22-24 in Vancouver. EFC President Bruce Clemenger and Vice-President Aileen Van Ginkel have been chairing panel sessions that explore: What does it mean to build a “whole society”? What is the purpose of secularism, and what are its limits? How can we re-conceptualize the role of religion in Canadian public life? What is the role of religion and spirituality in cultural reconciliation? Read more in the concept paper behind the conference.

EFC SPEAKER IN OLDS, ALBERTA
EFC Ambassador Paul Hilsden preached last Sunday (March 22) at First Baptist Church, Olds, Alta. Request a speaker for your event or church at theEFC.ca/speakers.

ONE ON ONE WITH MUSICIAN STEVE BELL
Two-time Juno winner Steve Bell speaks frankly about creativity, dealing with a faith crisis, and guidance for young Christian artists in the latest Faith Today. We’re currently offering our best prices ever – only $2.99 per issue at faithtoday.ca/subscriptions – but only for a few more weeks!

LATEST POSTS AT BLOG.FAITHTODAY.CA 
→A Call To Canadian Women: Time To Engage, By Margaret Gibb 
→Life in the Yukon: The Nugget I Brought Home, By Meagan Gillmore

COMING EVENTS AT THEEFC.CA/CALENDAR 
→World Vision Heart & Soul Forums, Kitchener/Vaughan/Ottawa, Mar. 24-26 
→Palm Sunday, Mar. 29, Good Friday Apr. 3, Easter Apr. 5 
→Toronto Passion Play, Apr. 3-5 
→World Vision Heart & Soul Forums, Vancouver/Calgary/Edmonton, Apr. 7-9 
→David Festival of Worship and the Arts, Port Perry, Apr. 10-12

PRAYER THAT OPENS PRISON GATES
What kind of prayer will cause prison gates to swing open of their own accord? We can learn a great deal from the prayers that set the Apostle Peter free in Acts 12, writes David Carson at the EFC website Christianity.ca, Canada’s Christian library online.