Home »Communications > EFC Update > 2017 > March 28, 2017

March 28, 2017

28 March 2017

Open Letter to Ontario MPPs on Conscience Protection

EFC President Bruce Clemenger has joined other faith leaders in signing a letter to Ontario MPPs regarding Bill 84 (Medical Assistance in Dying Statute Law Amendment Act). The letter asks MPPs to protect the conscience of health-care workers who object to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

Report on Violence against Women and Girls Flags Pornography

Last fall, the EFC condensed some of our research and concerns about the impact of violent pornography on violence against young women and girls into a submission to the Status of Women committee. The Status of Women committee has just released its report. The report notes the EFC’s submission and recommends two ways to limit the harm from violent and degrading pornography. Read more in our blog.

Motion M103 to Condemn Islamophobia

Motion M103 to condemn Islamophobia passed last week Thursday, March 23 in the House of Commons, 201 to 91. The Heritage Committee will now study how to reduce systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia. Read the EFC’s thoughts on the passing of the motion and our recommendations for what you can do in response.

Call to Prayer for the People of London, U.K.

In the wake of the terror attack in London on March 22, 2017, the EFC asked for prayer for the families of the victims and for the people of London.

Canadian Evangelicals Forums in Alberta and Manitoba

Bruce Clemenger, EFC President, Rick Hiemstra, Director of Research and Media Relations, and Aileen van Ginkel, Vice-President, Ministry Services, will participate this week in Forums held at Ambrose University in Calgary (today) and Providence College & Seminary in Otterburne, MB (March 31). These events will bring pastors and church leaders together to discern how God is leading Evangelicals in Canada.

Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations to Visit Alberta and Manitoba

Don McNiven, our Director of Affiliate and Donor Relations, will be in Calgary, Alberta tomorrow and Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 30th visiting churches, donors, educational institutions and organizations. If you'd like a visit from him to learn more about the EFC and how you can get involved, please email Don.

Our Whole Society Conference

How an inclusive society provide space for diverse perspectives and practices to be welcomed into the public sphere? Can we advance beyond simple toleration of religious and other differences to embrace a wider respect for all citizens? These are some of the questions to be addressed at the Our Whole Society conference, a multifaith conference supported by the EFC. There’s still time to join the discussion May 8–9, 2017 in Ottawa.

Coming Events at The EFC calendar

→ Seminary & Theological Grad School Virtual Fair (online), Mar. 29
→ First Nations Christian Writers Conference, Winnipeg, Mar. 30
→ Fruitful Dialogue on Science and Religion, Hamilton, Mar. 31
→ Spring Retreat with Aglow Kingdom Movement, Brooks, Alberta, Mar. 31-Apr. 1
→ Elevate Conference 2017, Langley, Mar. 31-Apr. 1
→ Retreat: And So We Wait…Our Spiritual Journey of Transformation, Calgary, Mar. 31-Apr. 2
→ Called to Write: Taking the Next Steps, Ottawa, Apr. 1
→ Promise Keepers Canada Legacy Conference, Chatham, Apr. 1
→ Voices Together City-Wide Rally, Vancouver, Apr. 1
→ Lay Pastor Development Program, Mississauga, Apr. 1
→ Science, Religion and the New Atheism, Halifax, Apr. 1
→ Dr. Raymond Damadian, MRI Inventor, to Speak in Vancouver, Apr. 2
→ Open Frames: Cinema and Transcendence, Toronto, Apr. 3-4
→ Man of the Shroud Exhibit, Kanata, Apr. 4-11
→ Weekend Getaway, from Family Life Canada, Banff, Apr. 7-9
→ All-In: Creating a Culture of Orphan Care, Hamilton, ON, Apr. 8
→ Iron Sharpens Iron Men’s Equipping Conference, Coquitlam, Apr. 8
→ Promise Keepers Canada Legacy Conference, St. Catharines, Apr. 8
→ EFC Ambassador Neil Siemens in Innisfail, Alberta, Apr. 9

Add your event to the calendar for free.

Short-term Missions Are Good for Whose Soul?

A report on short-term mission trips (STMTs) is the first of five reports in a major Canadian study on attitudes to mission, conducted by the EFC and the Canadian Missions Research Forum. It found that most pastors found STMTs to be a “valuable form of discipleship,” but that many churches also struggle to define the main purpose of short-term missions. Are short-term missions primarily about missions, or are they more about discipleship and spiritual formation? Read more in the latest Faith Today.