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EFC Update Newsletter July 7, 2020

07 July 2020

Hospitality, Church and People with Disabilities

Neil Cudney is the director of organizational and spiritual life and administration with Christian Horizons, an EFC affiliate organization that creates "communities of belonging where all can play a role." Neil spoke with Faith Today’s Karen Stiller recently in an extended interview about what hospitality has to do with church and people with disabilities.

You can support the production of more Canadian Christian journalism like this by making a charitable donation or advertising with Faith Today.

Congratulations to Latest Award Winners

Faith Today won four awards last week from the Canadian Christian Communicators Association, plus another seven awards the month before from The Word Guild, a national association of writers and other interested Christians. See details and links to all the winning articles at FaithToday.ca. Congratulations to all the winners!

Walking and the Life of Faith

Writer Mark Buchanan sees things differently when he walks. Our podcast now has an audio version of his reflective Faith Today article from May 2019, which takes readers inside the wonderful world of spiritual walking.

Time to Speak to Proposed Changes to Medical Assistance in Dying Law

The federal government has been granted a five-month extension by the Quebec Superior Court before changes to the euthanasia and assisted suicide law take effect. See the EFC’s recent blog on the impact of Bill C-7 on vulnerable Canadians and how you can help. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/C-7

Supporting a Bill Against Forced Labour 

Bill S-211 is a private member’s bill in the Senate that would require large corporations to report on what they are doing to make sure their supply chains are free of slavery, forced labour or child labour. The EFC supports this effort to reduce forced and child labour and to raise awareness about human trafficking. See the EFC’s letter sent in support of this bill plus a sample letter you can use to communicate with your MP at TheEFC.ca/S-211 

Does systemic racism exist in the Canadian church?

A new blog by Sherman Lau considers us-and-them thinking in our congregations. This blog series is produced in collaboration with the Peace & Reconciliation Network, an initiative of the World Evangelical Alliance. 

Send Us Photos of Your Church Reopening

It’s official — churches across Canada are reopening. We’d love to see how your church is doing this! Send us a photo of your regathering so we can share it on social media.

Coming Events at TheEFC.ca/Calendar

→ Be the Church in Uncertain Times (Missional Commons), online, July 7
→ Krish Kandiah on Hospitality as Hopeful Resistance (Regent College), online, July 8
→ Online Christian Ashram Retreat Weekend, July 10-12
→ Thirsting for God with Dr. Erwin Lutzer (Faith Mission), online, July 12-13
→ Be a Different Kind of Leader (Missional Commons), online, July 14
→ Rikk Watts on Reframing the Trinity (Regent College), online, July 15
→ End Sexual Exploitation Global Summit, online, July 18-28
→ Engage our Congregations (Missional Commons), online, July 21
→ David Smith on How Technology Is Changing Christian Education (Regent College), online, July 22
→ Reading the Bible in Late-Qing China (1807-1911) 晚清中国的圣经解读, online lecture in Mandarin (Regent College), July 29
→ World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, July 30
→ Global Leadership Summit 2020, online, Aug. 6-7

Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.

Pandemic a Great Time for Learning? 

Online course registrations are now open for many seminaries and Christian postsecondary institutions. Several are listed at TheEFC.ca/Calendar. Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses.

EFC Speakers in Your Online Gathering?

The EFC has local ambassadors in many Canadian provinces and expert staff on a variety of topics. One of them would be delighted to make a presentation at an online gathering of your community. Learn more at TheEFC.ca/Speakers. Request a new topic or mention one listed there, including social issues from euthanasia to refugees to prostitution, and ministry issues from adoption to youth ministry. Request a speaker now!

In Case You Missed It

Peaceful Assembly, Large Gatherings and the Local Church (blog post by EFC President Bruce Clemenger)
Our Neighbourhood is our Church (Faith Today article)
Reopening Churches 2: What we know so far, and what we can learn as provinces reopen (EFC June 30 webinar recording)
Sample letter of support for Bill C-219
EFC letter of support for Bill C-233
→ The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a case about whether ecclesiastical decisions about membership and discipline are outside of the scope of judicial review. See TheEFC.ca/Aga

→ Home print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free in Canada at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.

→ Get your message out at FaithToday.ca/Classifieds. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca