Classification Protestant Polity Congregationalist Congregations 150+ Region Canada | Orientation Evangelical Origin 1917
Enchant, Alberta Headquarters United States of America | |
Similar Evangelical Free Church of, Mennonite Church Canada, Conservative Congregational Christian, Open Brethren, National Association of Congre | ||
The Evangelical Free Church of Canada (EFCC) is an association of autonomous and interdependent evangelical Christian congregations in Canada. Its home office is located in Langley, British Columbia, on the campus of Trinity Western University. The EFCC was founded in 1917 at Enchant, Alberta, merged with the Fellowship of Gospel Churches in 1957, was incorporated under federal charter in 1967, and became autonomous from the Evangelical Free Church of America in 1984.
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Trinity Western University was founded as a college by the Evangelical Free Church of Canada and the Evangelical Free Church of America, and today is a chartered university with approximately 3,500 students. Trinity Western Seminary is a graduate division of the University, and the EFCC is uniquely partnered with several other denominational seminaries under the name Associated Canadian Theological Schools (ACTS). Approximately 400 students are enrolled in this graduate seminary institution. The Fosmark family, particularly brothers Carl and Lee, gave noteworthy leadership to the development of the EFCC. In 1993, in recognition of their vision and contribution, the building that now houses the Free Church seminary, Trinity Western Seminary, as well as the Home Office for National and International Ministries of the EFCC, was named the Fosmark Centre.
The EFCC operates an international mission arm known as Evangelical Free Church of Canada Mission (EFCCM). The EFCCM provides care and administrative help to about 100 missionaries in more than 16 countries. There are currently about 150 Evangelical Free Churches throughout Canada.
EFCC is an affiliate of the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada which is the national association of evangelical Christians, gathered together for influence, impact and identity in ministry and public witness. It is also a member of the International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches.
Doctrine
To update archaic language, to clarify theological ambiguity and to address new issues, the EFCC passed a substantial revision to its Statement of Faith on July 26, 2008, the first revision since the Statement was first adopted in 1950.
Distinctives
In May 2008 The Board of Directors of the EFCC approved a document that reflects that which characterizes the Evangelical Free Church of Canada community of churches and chose to move from "Distinctives" to "Our Character and Calling".