Articles

A new policy forbids military chaplains from not only praying, but from referring to God or the divine in spiritual reflections. They are being required to be publicly secular. The eminent Canadian philosopher Charles Tayor calls our time the Secular Age, a time when life can be lived without reference to God or the transcendent. Belief in God is only one option. For military chaplains, conforming to the secular age in their public pronouncements is now compelled. The policy

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (May/Jun 2026). →en français “But you’re going to have to serve somebody, yes indeed. / You’re going to have to serve somebody. / Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, / but you’re going to have to serve somebody.” These lyrics from Bob Dylan’s "Gotta Serve Somebody" point to a biblical truth. People can claim to be nonreligious, but we all believe in something. Despite claims to the contrary, there is no n

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Mar/Apr 2026). →en français It was a unique moment in Canadian history. A gathering of political, religious and Indigenous spiritual leaders, all seeking a path forward in relationships with Indigenous Peoples, a path toward understanding and reconciliation – a Sacred Assembly. It was December 1995, less than two months after the Quebec referendum. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples had begun in 1991, and man

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Jan/Feb 2026). →en français Recent legislative proposals, federal and provincial, will negatively impact religious freedom. These are prompting increased collaboration among diverse religious communities. These interactions are possible because of a long history of building respectful relationships despite deep theological differences. Such relationship building does not involve compromising our deeply held commitmen

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Nov/Dec 2025). →en français The positive contribution of faith communities in Canada is being challenged by a new series of initiatives targeting religious institutions and public religious expression. Many of the challenges are grouped together in a disturbing committee report on the advancement of secularization presented to the Quebec government in August. The 300-page report provides a comprehensive vision of wha

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Sep/Oct 2025). →en français Hate crimes have risen for the 6th consecutive year according to Stats Canada. And of the 1,342 crimes in 2024 judged to be motivated by religion, 68% were against Jews. Hate abounds and Jews are uniquely targeted. A recent government report on antisemitism in Ontario schools highlighted some stories. One 13-year-old girl was surrounded on multiple days by five boys who raised their hands

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (May/Jun 2025). →en français Prices, pensions and employment levels are fluctuating unpredictably in response to tariffs and tariff threats. We’ve seen clashing ideas about our national priorities and what exactly binds us together during the recent federal election, as candidates and their party leaders proposed different approaches to the issues confronting us as a country. Now we need to hear how our newly elected

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Mar/Apr 2025). →en français Have you ever been reluctant to share your deeply held views with others? Your pro-life beliefs, for example? Won’t it result in an argument? Will you be dismissed, labelled or judged without being fully heard? Could this undermine a relationship or get you shunned, affecting your workplace, community volunteering or school? For one young Christian medical student at the University of Mani

This article is reprinted with permission from Faith Today (Jan/Feb 2025). →en français Canadians and their organizations have long had free use of public spaces like parks, and been able to rent facilities such as schools, libraries, hotels and conference centres. Denying access based on religion violates religious freedom and hinders the ability of religious communities to contribute to the public good. But denying access is occurring more frequently and a Christian ministr

This article comes from Read directly: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2024-Sept-Oct →en français The ability of a Christian hospital to maintain its Christian ethic is now facing a legal challenge in British Columbia. Providing medical care is a consistent characteristic of Christian expression throughout Church history. In Medicine and Health Care in Early Christianity (Johns Hopkins, 2009), historian Gary Ferngren concludes that when a church was planted in the Roman E

Traduit de l'anglais par Bruce J. Clemenger Par Bruce Clemenger En ces temps tumultueux, les actes publics de haine ont considérablement augmenté au Canada. Cette augmentation est due en grande partie au massacre de Juifs par des militants du Hamas le 7 octobre et au conflit qui s'en est suivi entre Israël et le Hamas à Gaza. L'antisémitisme a considérablement augmenté depuis lors, de même que la haine anti-musulmane. Des personnes, des entreprises et des institutions religie

Articles de fond Interrompu par l'étonnement. Comment pouvons-nous saisir l'œuvre mystérieuse et surprenante de Dieu autour de nous ? Lynda MacGibbon y réfléchit. Le baiser de la joie. L'auteur Alastair Sterne, de Victoria (Colombie-Britannique), réfléchit à la possibilité humaine et divine de la joie. Cross Connections par David Guretzki Quand Dieu appelle les enfants. Souvent, Dieu utilise des adultes pour soutenir cet appel. Des aperçus de la gloire Le chemin d'Emmaüs nous

This article comes from Read directly: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2024-May-Jun →en français Amid the vitriol and animosity in Canadian public discourse, there are increasing calls for civility (including in my recent columns). These are pleas to self-moderate our speech and use our expressive freedoms wisely. This includes our freedom of religion. Religious freedom is sometimes referred to as the first freedom. That’s not because it is listed first in a constitutiona

This article comes from Read directly: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2023-Mar-Apr →en français EFC Senior Ambassador Bruce Clemenger writes that in offering refuge and creating safe spaces, we model Canada’s promise of civility and peace It has been called humanity’s longest hatred – the hatred of Jews. And it is on the rise in Canada. Hate crime statistics show that Jews are the most targeted religious group. Since the terrorist attacks in Israel Oct. 7, the greatest l

This article comes from Read directly: https://www.faithtoday.ca/Magazines/2024-Jan-Feb →en français Canadians are known for being nice. We are even teased for saying sorry when others would not bother. But being taught politeness, an element of this niceness, can also circumvent saying what we think. Our society revels in differences over sports and food, but when we dissent on other issues of taste, appearance or behaviour, do we not hold our tongues to avoid embarrassment

Honouring the faithful and excellent service of Bruce J. Clemenger’s 30 plus years with the EFC, where for 20 years he has led as CEO and President, and recognizing David Guretzki’s leadership and his own unique gifting and expertise, the Board of the EFC is pleased to announce new senior leadership roles for the EFC. [UPDATE: See more in the EFC Update newsletter of Jan. 31, 2023] Effective January 31, 2023, Bruce J. Clemenger will be appointed to a new role as Senior Ambass

August 2, 2021 Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon Governor General of Canada Rideau Hall 1 Sussex Drive Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A1 Excellency: On behalf of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (EFC), we would like to extend our congratulations on your recent appointment to the office of Governor General. We wish you well in your new role and trust that your role in representing the Queen both in Canada and abroad will bring you many opportunities to represent the

EFC President Bruce Clemenger was one of the signatories of a letter dated 20 May 2021 to Ontario Premier Doug Ford on restrictions placed on places of worship and part of an ongoing dialogue with the premier’s office. The letter was signed by Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Muslim leaders. Download the PDF.