Prostitution Challenge Reaches
supreme Court
the EFC intervened in the Supreme Court of Canada in a June case which challenges Canada’s prostitution laws (Attorney General of Canada v. Bedford). The EFC
argued that the decriminalization of prostitution would lead
to increased rates of human trafficking and victimization of
vulnerable people. The court’s decision is expected in a few
months. Keep updated at www.theEFC.ca/bedford.
EFC Board Appoints new Chair
Bill Fietje, president of the Associated Gospel Churches,
became chair of the EFC’s board of directors on May 10.
Past chair David Wells, general superintendent of The
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, has now completed
his term of service, along with board members Jessica Di
Sabatino and Angela Draskovic. The board includes members from across the country who ensure the mission, vision and strategic ends are pursued effectively. They work
closely with EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger. To pray
for board members by name, visit www.theEFC.ca/board.
Prayer Alerts for syria and vietnam
The EFC’s Religious Liberty Commission recently issued
prayer alerts for Syria and Vietnam. Read the latest alerts
(or sign up to receive them by email) at www.theEFC.ca/
alerts. Prayer over these troubled places remains needed.
national Prayer Breakfast
EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger and other members of
the EFC team again attended the National Prayer Breakfast
in Ottawa, an annual June event that draws politicians and
government staff from all parties. Interns from the EFC’s
Centre for Faith and Public Life also participated in the
related National Student Forum.
Military Chaplains Retreat
EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger recently participated in
the annual Canadian Forces Military Chaplains retreat in
Cornwall. Clemenger is a member of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy and represents
the 50 regular and reserve force evangelical chaplains. He
invites Christians to pray for chaplains in the military, corrections facilities, hospitals and other institutions.
Questions on Bullying Bill
The EFC released its analysis of Manitoba’s antibullying
legislation in May, expressing concerns about serious
flaws. Falling Short: Manitoba’s Bill 18, The Safe and Inclu-
sive Schools Act can be downloaded at www.theEFC.ca/
Bill18. The EFC has identified a dozen areas of concern
in this short bill, says Don Hutchinson, the EFC’s vice-
president and general legal counsel. “Our concerns, as
well as those expressed by representatives from the Jewish,
Muslim, Sikh, Coptic and Catholic communities, should
give Manitoba’s legislators a reason to pause.”
Religion in Public Discourse
EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger and Policy Analyst Julia
Beazley were two of the speakers at Bridging the Secular
Divide: Religion and Canadian Public Discourse at McGill
University May 27-28. It included religious leaders as well
as secular thinkers. Details, including links to some media
coverage, at www.theEFC.ca/ bridging2013.
Pray for Family and Congregation of
tim Bosma
EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger assured the family and
congregation of Tim Bosma that the EFC community would
pray for them. The Ontario man went missing May 6 and his
death was not confirmed until May 14. Please join in those
prayers – coast to coast – for God’s abiding mercy and grace
toward his widow and child, parents and family. Words of
encouragement can be sent in care of www.ancastercrc.org.
Colleges Consider native
theological Education
Christian Higher Education Canada (CHEC) is an independent association of 33 post-secondary schools affiliated with
the EFC. Aileen Van Ginkel, an EFC vice-president who
represents the EFC on the board of CHEC, recently participated in its annual conference and board meetings in Winnipeg. She also participated in a symposium co-sponsored
by CHEC and the North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies (NAIITS). Participants considered
partnership frameworks that will help meet the needs of
indigenous Christians for theological education in Canada.
Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue
Aileen Van Ginkel, the EFC’s vice-president of ministry
services, attended an April 17-18 meeting of the Roman
Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue. This group of 12 meets
twice a year to pray, study areas of faith and practice where
there may be disagreement or misunderstanding, and propose future projects. In the past 20 years the EFC and
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have engaged
together in several court cases.
Condolences on Deaths of Elijah
harper, george Beverly shea
EFC President Bruce J. Clemenger extended condolences
in May upon the death of Elijah Harper, calling him a
“courageous man” whose call in 1995 for aboriginal and
non-aboriginal religious leaders to join for a Sacred Assembly resulted in a significant statement. Clemenger
also extended condolences upon the death April 16 of
Canadian soloist George Beverly Shea at age 104. Details
at www.theEFC.ca/current. Ft
