THE EFC UPDATE - 2015.05.10
Uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus
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LATEST ON ASSISTED-SUICIDE LAW
EFC leaders presented concerns last week about Bill C-14, the government’s proposal to legalize assisted suicide, on the TV show 100 Huntley Street (12 min. video) and to a Parliamentary committee in writing (four-page PDF) and at a hearing (ten-minute video, jump to start time of 19:43).
The EFC today made a written submission to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs.
The EFC is part of a coalition focused on conscience protection (if you watched the 100 Huntley video above you heard that mentioned). The Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience, founded by the Christian Medical and Dental Society and several other groups, operates www.canadiansforconscience.ca, a website that enables people to write to the federal or respective provincial government.
ADD YOUR VOICE
The EFC encourages you to contact your MP to ask for strong, specific conscience protection in its assisted-suicide law, Bill C-14. Our Urgent Action page has all the information you need to prepare for this timely and important communication. It can take less than half an hour for you to make sure your MP knows your views about assisted suicide.
EFC WEBINAR: THE PROBLEM OF PORNOGRAPHY
Registration is now open for the next EFC webinar, scheduled for Tuesday, May 24, 2016 and featuring Julia Beazley, EFC director of public policy. The webinar will present an overview of the problem of pornography and its connection to human trafficking. It will also explore practical ways church leaders can equip their congregations to resist and fight it. Join us to add your own contributions to the discussion and learn more on this challenging issue.
COMING EVENTS AT THEEFC.CA/CALENDAR
→ Theological Student’s Association Conf., Montreal, May 12-15
→ Evening With Cairo Missionary “Mamma Maggie,” Toronto, May 12
→ Small Group Network Lobby Gathering, Guelph, May 13
→ Fundraiser Concert for New Connections (Prison) Ministries, Ottawa, May 13
→ Anne Lamott on Henri Nouwen, Toronto, May 13
→ An Introduction to Contemplative Prayer, Vancouver, May 14
→ Gather Women Event, Edmonton, May 14
→ Pentecost Sunday, May 15
→ Ontario Prayer Breakfast, Toronto, May 18
→ National Prayer Breakfast, Ottawa, May 18-19
A SPEAKER FOR YOUR GROUP?
On May 20 the EFC’s Rick Hiemstra is leading a presentation and discussion with pastors from the Atlantic District of the Wesleyan Church on the “State of the Church in Canada.” Consider inviting an EFC speaker for your group or church. Find a list of popular topics at theEFC.ca/speakers.
MEET YOU IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
Don McNiven, the EFC’s director of affiliate and donor relations, is visiting across Ontario during May and then New Brunswick and Nova Scotia the week of June 6. He would be delighted to visit with supporters there to discuss the programs of the EFC and a current research extension of the Canadian Bible Engagement Study. Contact him at McNivenD@theEFC.ca or call 416-902-9110.
WHY IN THE WORLD DO WE HAVE SO MUCH STUFF?
The Canadian church lost a great writer and activist last weekend in the sudden death of Debra Fieguth, a longtime senior writer at Faith Today. Her last article, subtitled “Thinking biblically through our collecting, hoarding and discarding,” is available in the new May/Jun issue of Faith Today. Celebrate her life and contribution to the church by reading that article. Condolences for her husband, Rev. Dr. Ian Ritchie, may be sent c/o St. James Anglican Church, 10 Union Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 2N7.
LATEST POST AT FAITHTODAY.CA/BLOG
→ Goodbye beautiful writer, our lovely friend, by Karen Stiller
“SPRING” FAITH TODAY ON SOMEONE YOU LOVE
Want to order a subscription for someone to Faith Today, Canada’s Christian magazine? It makes a great gift that lasts all year. Faith Today helps readers to be better informed, equipped and connected! As an added bonus, subscriptions now also include our free new youth magazine, Love Is Moving. Details at FaithToday.ca/subscriptions or toll-free 1-866-302-3362.
COULD YOUR CONGREGATION AFFILIATE?
Congregations that affiliate with the EFC take a public stand for religious freedom, collaboration for ministry effectiveness, and the importance of bringing biblical principles to Canadian law and public policy. Join hundreds of other congregations from more than 40 denominations at work in “uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus” at theEFC.ca/affiliate.