It’s
important
we continue
to tell these
stories as
a confirmation of
obedience
and an
encouragement of
practice.
One of the things I enjoy when reading Faith Today are the many stories and news items about Evangelicals creatively engaging with their
neighbours and their communities, both in Canada and globally.
They see a need and, out of their
love for God and following His
command to love our neighbours,
they engage.
As I travel the country I meet
people and worship in churches
reaching into their communities in
various ways. Some of the outreach
I see appears similar to what other
churches are doing, and yet each is
distinct – shaped by the needs the
outreach is responding to and the
capacity of those responding.
That’s remarkable in a highly
secularized culture where religion
is pushed to the margins and increasing numbers of our neighbours
prefer the exercise of our faith be
restricted to our homes and places
of worship.
Our culture is increasingly estranged from the Christian beliefs
the majority once affirmed. Many
people now subscribe to individual
autonomy (some do it thoughtfully,
others unconsciously). In this culture there is growing indifference
and even hostility to beliefs that
challenge that autonomy.
It’s tempting among those who
believe in God to respond by withdrawing and keeping our heads
low, and focusing only on what we
can do to keep our faith from being
extinguished.
The good news is this is not how
many are responding. And of course
such a withdrawal would not be
following the way Jesus lived and
what the gospel commands.
Ours is a faith that propels us
outward, to love our neighbour and
be witnesses in word and deed to the
love God has shown us in the gift of
His Son, in whom we have found
redemption and reconciliation, and
in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Protecting
conscientious objection
EFC President Bruce Clemenger
joined other faith leaders in
March in signing an open letter
to Ontario MPPs regarding Bill
84 (Medical Assistance in Dying
Statute Law Amendment Act).
The letter asks MPPs to protect
the conscience of health care
workers who object to euthanasia
and assisted suicide, and calls
Ontario to come into line with the
fairer regimes of other provinces
where doctors are not forced to
refer patients for assisted death.
The EFC also submitted a brief
about conscience in March to the
Ontario Committee on Finance
and Economic Affairs.
Currently the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of
Ontario requires doctors provide
referrals or conduct procedures
that violate their consciences. A
constitutional challenge to this
policy has been launched by five
doctors, the Christian Medical
and Dental Society, and two
other physicians’ groups. It is
scheduled to be heard in June, and
the decision could be precedent-
setting for how professional
associations treat conscientious
objection. The EFC filed supporting
legal arguments with the Ontario
Superior Court of Justice in March
along with the Assembly of
Catholic Bishops of Ontario and
the Christian Legal Fellowship.
www.TheEFC.ca/Conscience
Brief on palliative
care bill
The EFC recently encouraged
the House of Commons Health
Committee to move forward
with Bill C-277 as a first step
toward addressing the need for
good quality, widely accessible
palliative care for all Canadians.
You can ask your MP to support
increased palliative care using
www.TheEFC.ca/Bill-277-sample-
letter. Download the EFC’s brief in
the Government section at
www.TheEFC.ca/Palliative.
“Islamophobia” motion,
pornography, Syrian
refugees
The House of Commons passed
Motion M103 in March, condemning
Islamophobia. The Heritage
Committee will now study and
recommend how to reduce
systemic racism and religious
discrimination. EFC staff blogged
about this controversial motion
and recommended possible
responses for concerned citizens.
Last fall, the EFC condensed
some of its research and
concerns about the societal
impact of violent pornography
into a submission to the Status
of Women committee. The
EFC blog celebrates how the
EFC’s submission was noted
News FROM THE EFC
The faith that propels us outward
So that we can bless Canada in the name of Jesus
THE GATHERING PLACE
BRUCE J. CLEMENGER
Find out about news stories
like these and more at
www.TheEFC.ca/SocialIssues.
Learn how to take action on
the issues you care about at
www.TheEFC.ca/TakeAction.
Visit the EFC on
Facebook and Twitter
for breaking news, great links and
lively discussion.
