November 24, 2020
Urgent: Act Now to Defend People with Disabilities
Watch the compelling testimony of disability advocates before the Justice Committee in our new video. They oppose Bill C-7 which would allow disability to be one of the criteria for euthanasia. Read the EFC’s new blog, "Will you rise to the defense of human rights?" Your support is urgently needed. Please take a few minutes to call or email your MP to ask them to oppose Bill C-7 and euthanasia on the basis of disability. See EFC resources at TheEFC.ca/C-7.
EFC Pre-Advent Prayer Gathering This Thursday
The EFC is inviting affiliates, ambassadors, board and staff to participate in a Zoom Prayer Gathering on Thursday, November 26 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (EST). We will gather for a pre-Advent time of God-focused worship, Scripture-fed and Spirit-led prayer. Click here for a video invite.
Next Webinar: The Church and COVID
Pour a coffee, tea or hot chocolate and join an EFC webinar on Dec. 3 from 2-3 p.m. to chat and learn together about how church and ministry leaders are faring during these challenging days. Our guests include: Briercrest Seminary’s Margaret Clarke, assistant professor of marriage and family therapy with a particular interest in clergy wellness, and Tim Day, the national engagement director for Waybase.com, an online platform that helps Christian ministries partner together, and Dan Godard, lead pastor of Victory Church, Moose Jaw, Sask. Register now!
EFC President in Workshop on Leading Beyond the Blizzard
EFC President Bruce Clemenger is a panelist in the first of four webinars hosted by Wycliffe College designed to help faith-based organizations navigate in uncertain times. The webinar is being held today and will be posted online. The topic is: Stop Strategic Planning: Why Leading Beyond the Blizzard Requires a Radical Shift.
Shareable News in Canada Watch Newsletter
How is the EFC engaging with bills on pornography age restrictions, conversion therapy and euthanasia? Learn more in the latest issue of the EFC newsletter Canada Watch. Also you can read about the recent annual gathering of ministry leaders known as Presidents Day, plus more about a collaborative research project on family faith formation. All at TheEFC.ca/CanadaWatch
New Podcast: Veteran Mission Organization Has a New Leader
Jennifer Lau is the new executive director of CBM (Canadian Baptist Ministries), a 150-year-old Canadian mission organization. She spoke with Faith Today’s Karen Stiller about her calling, the weight of words, and what it means to go and learn.
Clemenger on Joining Conscience with Respect
“We live in a society of deep differences,” acknowledges EFC President Bruce Clemenger in his latest Faith Today column. He reminds us of the significance of pluralism in such a society: “A pluralist society can facilitate a public space to mutually live out our deeply held beliefs without fear of hindrance or reprisal.”
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Celebrating 50 Years of Hispanic Ministry in Canada
EFC President Bruce Clemenger participated in an online event held earlier this week celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Hispanic Church in Canada. The event included Hispanic leaders from several denominations and prayer from the Hispanic church in Canada.
→ Adoption and fostering awareness month, nationwide Nov. 1-30
→ Business Talks: Re-Imagine 2021 (RZIM/Intriciti), online, Nov. 25
→ The Role of the Holy Spirit in Evangelism: Shaila Visser (Sent Conference), online, Nov. 25
→ Opportunities for Invitation this Christmas (Alpha Canada), online, Nov. 25
→ EFC affiliate prayer gathering, online, Nov. 26
→ Christmas book fair, online, Nov. 26
→ Peoples of African descent and Canadian churches (Canadian Council of Churches), online, Nov. 26
→ Rediscovering Mission in the Midst of the Pandemic (Wycliffe College), online, Nov. 27
→ Iron Sharpens Iron Conference (CSB Men’s Network), online, Nov. 28
→ Faithful Climate Conversations (For the Love of Creation), online, Nov. 30
→ Agile Leadership (Centre for Canadian Centre for Christian Charities), online, Dec. 2
→ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (annual event by UN), Dec. 2
→ EFC webinar: The Church and COVID: How are our pastors and leaders faring? Dec. 3
→ The Power of Invitation (Alpha Canada), online, Dec. 2; Le pouvoir de l’invitation (Alpha Canada), online, Dec. 3
→ Watercooler Break for Communication Workers (Cdn Christian Communicators Assoc’n), online, Dec. 4
→ Plan to Protect 101, free webinar, Dec. 8
→ Leading Beyond the Blizzard: Funding and Management (Wycliffe College), online, Dec. 15
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
The EFC to Intervene in Religious Freedom Case
The EFC has been granted intervener status by the Supreme Court of Canada in a case about whether ecclesiastical decisions about membership and discipline are outside of the scope of judicial review. The case involves the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of Canada, which is challenging an Ontario Court of Appeal decision that would set the bad precedent of permitting the court to judicially review the dispute between members of the church and their bishop on a theological and disciplinary decision. This would be an unwelcome change from an earlier decision by Canada’s highest court that ruled courts will not “become the arbiter of religious dogma,” a case in which the EFC intervened.
In Case You Missed It
→ Bill 21 case reaches court
→ Support a bill requiring age-verification for online pornography (EFC website)
→ Euthanasia Bill C-7 will bring harm to people with disabilities (EFC website)
→ Defend Dignity webinars on pornography addiction and recovery
→ Sixties scoop survivor stories (Faith Today article)
→ Welcome the stranger: A Canadian church guide to welcoming refugees (free practical resource)
→ EFC speakers in your online gathering - contact us to explore options
→ Get your message out at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca