2005 Program IGNITE OUR CULTURE CONFERENCE THEME: "What Are We Going To Do About Political Marginalization?" In the October issue of The Western Standard, the lead article, "Leap of Faith: How Evangelicals are rising up to change the face of Canadian politics," reported that there is a systemic marginalisation of evangelical Christians in Canada. The article states: "If Canadian evangelicals feel alienated, it's not without reason. The federal Liberals have mounted a number of policy initiatives that fly directly in the face of traditional values and potentially threaten people of faith. Moreover, the Liberals have made the community a favourite target in recent elections. In 2000, then Prime Minister Jean Chretien launched a successful fear campaign against Stockwell Day and the Canadian Alliance, linking them with evangelicals and implying a 'hidden agenda.' This, plus broadcasts on the CBC, fines levied on conservative Christians by human rights bodies, and other examples, were cited by Christianity Today, a prominent American evangelical magazine, when it declared in 2001 a 'velvet oppression' of evangelicals in Canada." Finally, with the Western Standard article, a major Canadian news magazine has begun to seriously address the problem of the marginalization of Christians in Canadian public life. It is up to Christians themselves, however, to develop and pursue effective solutions to this problem. As Christians (both Evangelical and Roman Catholic), we must develop more effective strategies going forward than we have used in the past. Which is why the ECP Centre wants to address the problem head on. This year’s conference will explore the question: "What are we going to do about our political marginalization (the so-called velvet oppression)?" Tristan Emmanuel Executive Director FRIDAY NIGHT TOWNHALL PROGRAM "What Are We Going To Do About Political Marginalization?" 7:30 PM - Introduction (Rev. Emmanuel) 7:40 PM - Are the Gloves Coming Off? (Panel discussion) Chris Kempling Stephen Bennett Scott Brockie Larry Spencer 8:15 PM - Interlude 8:20 PM - Whose Gloves Are Coming Off? (Panel discussion) Alex Cassar (NCLN) Johanna Miller (student) Adam Muir (student) Natalie Hudson (Toronto Right to Life) Paul Tuns (Interim) Roy Beyer (Christian Activist) Herman Faber (Lawyer) Jody Sanderson (Editor) Royal Hamel (Watchman Ministries) Leslie Bartley (CHP) Tim Bloedow (MP’s assistant) Interlude (Stephen Bennett) How Are We Going to Respond? (Rev. Emmanuel) SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE 8:00 AM - Doors open for table venders. 8:30 AM - Doors open registration for conference participants 8:45 AM - Hymn sing (Stephen Bennett) 9:00 AM - Welcome (Rev. Emmanuel) 9:10 AM - Scott Brockie 10:05 AM - Dr. Van Dam 11:05 AM - Stephen and Irene Bennett 12:05 PM - Lunch 1:00 PM - Song (Bennett) 1:05 PM - Chris Kempling 1:30 PM - Roy Beyer 2:00 PM - Rob Wildeboer 2:30 PM - Break 2:50 PM - Song (Bennett) 3:00 PM - "Stategic Voting" forum 4:00 PM - Wrap Up (Rev. Emmanuel)