micah challenge hires co-ordinator
Robyn Bright is the new national co-ordinator for Micah Challenge Canada, a national faith- based anti-poverty network in which the EFC is a partner. Bright comes to the EFC from Parliament Hill,
where she worked as an adviser on poverty, peace-building
and environmental issues for nearly seven years.
The EFC hosts the Micah Challenge national office in its
Ottawa Centre for Faith and Public Life.
Bright met with MPs throughout November and December to ensure that global poverty issues are on the
agenda when the G8 and G20 leaders meet in Canada
in June 2010. She is also preparing for the 2010 global
Micah Challenge campaign “ 10. 10. 10,” which will see
10 million Christians from around the world praying
together and talking action to alleviate poverty in October of next year.
The World Evangelical Alliance is a key partner of
Micah Challenge International, with Micah Challenge
active in 40 countries around the world.
act on euthanasia bill
A private member’s bill that seeks to decriminalize
euthanasia and assisted suicide is scheduled to have its
second hour of debate on Feb. 2 and second reading vote
in the House of Commons on Feb. 3.
The EFC’s euthanasia webpage will help you learn
more and take action. Read about Bill C-384. Watch the
EFC’s short informational video. Download a sample letter that you can send to your Member of Parliament. Visit
theEFC.ca/issues.
Support affordable housing
The EFC’s Don Hutchinson and Julia Beazley appeared
before a House of Commons committee Nov. 5 to support
a private member’s bill that proposes the development of
more coming eventS
Details at theEFC.ca/events or call 1-866-302-3362
•;EFC Christian Leaders Connection Seminars: Christian leaders in
the Church and in business can get a better understanding of how
to engage in a secular Canada through these one-day seminars
presented by EFC staff. Register now at www.evangelicalfellow
ship.ca/clc for Edmonton (Jan. 19); Calgary (Jan. 21); Toronto (Jan.
25); Belleville, Ont. (Feb. 16); Otterburne, Man. (Mar. 25); Caronport,
Sask. (Mar. 26-27); Ottawa (Apr. 13).
•;Rencontre au sommet: A French-language-only gathering of
Christian workers spending 48 hours listening to God, praying
and sharing, with no agenda. Near Quebec City, Jan. 25-27. Visit
http://rencontreausommet.fr.gd.
a national affordable housing strategy (Bill C-304). Read
the submission Moving Forward Together on Affordable
Housing at theEFC.ca (search term “affordable”).
presidents day a Success
Each fall, the EFC holds a gathering of more than 100
ministry leaders, drawn from its affiliated denominations,
ministry organizations and educational institutions. The October 2009 event, hosted by EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger, was held in Montreal and focused on ministry trends,
challenges and celebrations in Quebec.
Glenn Smith, executive director of Direction Chré-tienne, introduced and facilitated panel sessions that provided an overview of the province’s Protestant and Catholic
churches.
Other presenters included Geoff Tunnicliffe, international
director of the World Evangelical Alliance, who spoke about
the varied work being undertaken by the WEA in recent
months.
Participants also celebrated the 45th anniversary of the
EFC with past EFC presidents Brian Stiller and Gary Walsh.
Up to the minute Updates
By Don Hutchinson, EFC vice-president
In September the EFC’s Centre for Faith and Public Life (CFPL) began using new technologies to keep sup- porters more up-to-date, and the benefits had already
become very obvious by the December court hearings in
the Heintz v Christian Horizons case.
If you go online to theEFC.ca and follow the links to
the CFPL Twitter feed or the CFPL blog, you will see what I
mean (anyone can view them – you don’t need to sign up
or log in), but I’ll also take a minute to explain here how
they may benefit you.
While CFPL staff have been posting informative
“webitorials” (online editorials) each month for the past
few years at www.christianity.ca, our new blog and Twitter
feed allow us to better engage with you on issues of law
and public policy on a daily basis. This conveniently allows
you to check in with our work on your schedule, and allows
the quick sharing of information among many EFC supporters in urgent situations.
Since the blog debuted in September, we have posted
an average of three new articles per week. Topics have
included abortion, euthanasia, freedom of religion, human
trafficking, pornography, poverty and prostitution.
Often what we do at the blog is provide current
updates on bills we’re supporting or opposing in Parliament, as well as on courtroom activity that’s shaping the
