THE EFC UPDATE - 2016.05.17
Uniting Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus
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MARCH FOR LIFE
EFC staff participated in the annual 2016 March for Life on Parliament Hill on May 12, 2016. RCMP estimated more than 10,000 peaceful protesters marched from Parliament Hill through the streets of downtown Ottawa. Learn more about the three arms of Canada’s prolife movement – political, educational and pastoral – by reading an article in the May/Jun issue of Faith Today.
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.
LATEST ON ASSISTED-SUICIDE LAW
The new House of Commons Justice Committee report recommends minor changes to Bill C-14, including some language supportive of conscience protection in the Preamble. This still falls short of the substantive protection proposed in EFC’s submission to the committee. See also EFC’s written briefto the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Check out EFC public policy director Julia Beazley discussing the bill in a May 11 appearance on the TV show 100 Huntley Street.
ADD YOUR VOICE ON CONSCIENCE PROTECTION
The EFC encourages you to contact your MP to ask for strong, specific conscience protection in the proposed assisted-suicide law, Bill C-14. Our Urgent Action page has all the information you need to prepare for this timely and important communication. The EFC supports private member’s Bill C-268 to protect health care providers from being compelled to participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide. You can ask your MP to support Bill C-268 using the EFC’s sample letter of support.
CONSULTATION ON TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL
The EFC is partnering to develop ministry research on how young adults can deepen their spiritual journey as they make the transition from high school to the next stage in life. A consultation with 35 ministry leaders from across Canada, held May 16, launched a process of collaborative research and ministry application. This all follows up on the finding from the Hemorrhaging Faith study which emphasized the importance of working with youth and young adults at major life transition points. Partners include Power to Change, Truth Matters, Muskoka Woods Leadership Studio, Youth for Christ and Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.
EFC STAFF ON THE HILL
EFC staff attended several committee hearings on Parliament Hill last week, including one on resettling refugees in Canada and another on international religious freedom. Watch an update on refugee sponsorship in Canada from the Minister of Immigration, the Hon. John McCallum, at the start of a two-hour video from May 12. Watch the one-hour briefing with Julia Bicknell on international religious freedom, also from May 12. Julia is the director of World Watch Monitor and a 30-year-veteran of BBC World Service.
COMING EVENTS AT THEEFC.CA/CALENDAR
→ Ontario Prayer Breakfast, Toronto, May 18
→ National Prayer Breakfast, Ottawa, May 18-19
→ Praisefest Ontario, Toronto, May 19-21
→ Christian Singles Know Your Worth, Ottawa, May 21
→ Christian Music Fest, Toronto, May 22
→ World Vision Church Leaders Forum, Winnipeg, May 24
→ EFC Webinar: The Problem of Pornography, May 24
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.
ADVANCE NOTICE: MONCTON
EFC President Bruce Clemenger and Don McNiven, the EFC’s director of affiliate and donor relations, will be participating in a “Town Hall”-style meeting in Moncton June 6 at 7 p.m. AST, hosted by Hillside Baptist Church. Topics including euthanasia and gender dysphoria and their impact on the church and society.
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. His itinerary also includes Alberta in July, Ontario in August, PEI and Nova Scotia in September and Ontario in October. He would be delighted to visit with supporters in those places to discuss the programs of the EFC and current research initiatives. Contact him at McNivenD@theEFC.ca or call 416-902-9110.
“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.
LATEST POST AT FAITHTODAY.CA/BLOG
→ An American and Canadian Evangelical dialogue over our story: “Are American and Canadian Evangelicals Really That Different?” By George Yancey and Sam Reimer