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November 14, 2017

14 November 2017

Justice Committee Votes to Protect Worship

The Justice Committee voted last week to amend Bill C-51 to retain the specific Criminal Code protection for religious services and officials. The EFC had formally asked for just such a change, and is encouraged that the concerns of religious groups were heard. The bill will now return to the House of Commons for a final vote, and then it will progress to the Senate to be debated and voted on. Please consider asking your MP to vote to maintain these protections. You can use this sample letter. Read the EFC’s submission from Oct. 30, an interfaith letter signed by more than 66 religious leaders sent Oct. 31, and get the latest news at www.TheEFC.ca/C51.

EFC President at Ecumenical Meetings

Last week, EFC President Bruce Clemenger chaired a World Evangelical Alliance task force meeting in Charlotte, N.C. The EFC is one of 129 national alliances that belong to the WEA, and Bruce Clemenger serves on the WEA’s International Council. This week, EFC President Clemenger will be an observer at the annual meetings of the Canadian Council of Churches.

EFC Speaks on Pornography and Sexual Exploitation in Winnipeg

Julia Beazley, EFC Director of Public Policy, was in Winnipeg from November 11-12, speaking on pornography and sexual exploitation at Defend Dignity's REVEAL forums at two Winnipeg churches and Sunday morning at Cornerstone Alliance Church.

Religious Groups Work Together to Preserve Legal Protections

The EFC has long found it constructive to ask: "What can we do better together than on our own?" Our affiliates and interfaith partners expressed common concern about Bill C-51, and our collective action had a more significant impact than any one of us would have had alone.  The efforts to preserve special legal protections for religious leaders and worship services are an excellent example of what can happen when we work together.

EFC Vice-President Visits Peterborough

David Guretzki spoke at a CBOQ Ministerial equipping day in Peterborough on November 9, 2017. He spoke on the theme of equipping to engage with secularism. If your church or group would like to have an EFC representative come and speak, please go to our speakers webpage.

Love Is Moving at Canadian Youth Workers Conferences

Joel Gordon and Ben Porter, founders of the EFC's youth initiative, Love Is Moving, will be attending the Canadian Youth Workers Conferences (CYWC) beginning November 18 in Montreal. Ben Porter will be attending events in Moncton (November 24-25), Vancouver (January 19-20), and Calgary (March 2-3). Joel Gordon will be attending an event in Montreal this Saturday, joining Ben Porter in Vancouver January 19-20, and attending the Saskatoon conference (January 26-27). Ben and Joel will be networking and promoting Love Is Moving, which is a national sponsor of CYWC.

Refugee Sponsorship Webinar

Registration is now open for our next webinar this Thursday, Nov. 16 at noon EST. Catch up on the latest developments with private refugee sponsorship and hear from Canadians who have worked directly with incoming refugee families in the last 18 months. Find recordings of past webinars at www.TheEFC.ca/Webinars.

Day of Prayer for Religious Freedom

Sunday, November 26 is a day set apart to pray for the successful resolution of the Trinity Western University law school case, which will be heard in the Supreme Court of Canada on November 30 and December 1. This day of prayer is an initiative of the EFC and the Canadian Council of Christian Charities. The far-reaching potential implications of the Trinity Western case also makes this a day to pray for the future of religious freedom in Canada. Download a free one-page PDF that summarizes the facts and explains why this is important at www.TheEFC.ca/ReligiousFreedom2017. Please reproduce it for your church or other group.

EFC Annual Update on Video

What has the EFC has been doing over the last 12 months to fulfil its mission to unite Evangelicals to bless Canada in the name of Jesus? EFC leaders highlight our public policy work, court interventions, research, youth mobilization and more in a new 8-minute video. Watch it anytime here.

“Love Is Moving” Through Youth for Christ Western Canada

This week’s Love Is Moving segment on Outside the Box with Sheldon Neil features Youth for Christ Western Canada. This weekly segment on Outside the Box is designed to highlight the EFC’s youth initiative Love Is Moving. Do you have a young person in your life? Encourage them to check out this show every Friday at 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Yes TV. Past episodes are available on the Outside the Box website.

The Incarnation Mystery: Why God Becoming Flesh is the Paramount Teaching of the Christian Faith

As Christmas approaches, our Vice-President and Resident Theologian David Guretzki reflects on the concept of the incarnation…and why God becoming flesh is a mystery, in the Biblical sense of the word. Guretzki writes, “Let’s put it this way. Incarnation is something to be marvelled over in its mystery, not mastered as a mathematical problem.”

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/calendar

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→ Adoption and Fostering Awareness Month, Nationwide, Nov. 1-30
→ Entrepreneurial Leaders Forum & Awards Gala, Toronto, Nov. 15
→ Panel on Interfaith Partnership in Advocacy, Ottawa, Nov. 15
→ EFC Webinar: What have churches learned about refugee sponsorship? Online, Nov. 16
→ Get equipped for refugee advocacy, online, Nov. 17
→ 25 principes bibliques pour un marriage passionnant, Québec, Nov. 17-18
→ Promise Keepers Canada All In Conference, Toronto, Nov. 17-18
→ Recovery from Mental Illness is Possible, Peterborough, Nov. 18
→ National Restorative Justice Symposium, Ottawa, Nov. 19-21
→ Engaging Communities Through Research: A Capacity-Building Event for Faith-Based Campuses and their Partners, Waterloo, Nov. 24-25
→ SHINE Women’s Conference, Burlington, Nov. 24-25
→ Day of Prayer for Religious Freedom in Canada, nationwide, Nov. 26
→ Entrepreneurial Leaders Forum and Awards Gala, Vancouver, Nov. 29
→ Bonar-Parkdale Presbyterian Church Christmas Bazaar 2017, Dec. 2

Latest Posts at FaithToday.ca/blog

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In Case You Missed It

EFC Statement on Texas Church Attack
Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of Religious Freedom
Letter to Governor General on Controversial Remarks
The EFC at M-103 Hearings
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Faith Today Interview with Lorna Dueck
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Tips and treasures: Sharing what churches have learned sponsoring refugees