Christian Legal Society National Conference

I'm a bit late on this, but I wanted to give a summary of the shenanigans at the CLS National Conference last month in San Diego.

The plenary speakers were great. It's odd, though, that what stands out for me about Gordon and Gail MacDonald and Mike McIntosh is not what they told us-- though their talks were excellent-- but what they did. Their gracious service to CLS from beginning to end of the conference was humbling.

Gordon and Gail MacDonald did more than just come and speak. They were there for the entire conference, presented workshops, and met in small groups with attendees. Gordon closed our conference with the Sunday morning preaching as well. What a blessing from this gracious couple! Mike McIntosh* not only encouraged us through his speaking, but also gave of his time and resources, helped to mobilize his entire congregation and sister churches, and practically put his staff at our disposal to make the conference successful. Evan Wickham and his wife Sandy led worship for the 120+ law students there-- at no cost or effort on our part. They did an amazing job, and we are grateful to them as well.

We loved our small group discussions after breakfast, the fellowship at each evening's banquet, and the time to get to know like-minded folks from around the country. The highlight presentation for most of us was from Restore International's Bob Goff, who challenged us to "look for the fingerprints of Jesus" in the opportunities we're faced with, and say "yes." Bob's story-- and stories-- about his compassionate work in his family and around the world were challenging and hilarious.

On the law student front, I think we had the most edifying National Law Student Convention to date. We had about 120 law students from more than 20 different law schools, who took part in worship, workshops, and networking throughout the weekend.

After introducing students to the four CLS ministries (Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Aid, the Center for Law and Religious Freedom, and Law Student Ministries), and giving Fred Potter, our new CEO at CLS, say a few words, we heard from LSM Deputy Director Dan Kim on what it means to be in Christian community as a law student. We spent the rest of the conference in workshops:

Professor John Nagle led a discusion on Social Justice and Creation Care; Wendy McMahon, Judge Mary Libby Payne, and Merilyn Steele presented a panel on women's issues; Brent Amato, Gary Maedor, Ann Buwalda, and Sylvia Chen spoke on career options and integration of faith and practice; Center Senior Counsel Kim Colby spoke on religious liberty; and InterVarsity Graduate and Faculty staff worker Gary Cameron and I facilitated a discussion on ministry on campus.

Rock-star bookman Byron Borger was with us as well, speaking on Developing a Christian Worldview through Reading. He was a great encouragement to all of us-- you can read some of his reflections on the conference on his excellent Booknotes Blog.

Finally, the annual scholars' symposium was a big hit, thanks to Dr. Dave VanDrunen of Westminster Seminary California, who addressed a small, but energetic group of law professors, deans, students, and lawyers on "Justice as Human Vocation."

We're still exploring dates and locations for next year's national conference, but I hope you'll join us!

*I don't have a link yet to Mike's plenary session in San Diego, but here's a clip of his testimony in another setting, from washedred.com.

Richard Hooker: Priest, Legal Scholar, Humble Servant

Today on the Anglican calendar is the festival of Richard Hooker, who died on Nov 2 or 3, 1600. Russell Kirk says this of Hooker, who had a lasting influence on the jurisprudence of the English reformation and hence the American founding:

Hooker's understanding of the benign character of law, of historical and cultural continuity, of constitutional government, and of prudent toleration would persist even among most leaders of the American Revolution--whether or not they had been reared as Anglicans, for Hooker's arguments penetrated beyond the communion of the Church of England. Many Americans (though not most New Englanders) acquired their early concepts of human nature and of the civil social order from the Elizabethan Book of Common Prayer, which Hooker's defense of the via media secured as the basic ecclesiastical teaching of reformed England.

Despite his relatively short life (he died at age 46) as an obscure priest, Hooker's influence is enduring. He was humble, yet brilliant; theologically sound, yet tolerant: "temperate and literate." May we have more like him today.

William Cowper's epitaph ends with this:

Yet he that lay so long obscurely low
Doth now preferr'd to greater honours go.
Ambitious men, learn hence to be more wise;
Humility is the true way to rise:
And God in me this lesson did inspire,
To bid this humble man, Friend, sit up higher.

Thanks be to God for the life and ministry of Richard Hooker!

Justice Ginsberg and the Red Mass

Have a look at what Joe Carter says over at First Things about why Justice Ginsburg won't attend Red Mass again.

Hint: It's not because she's Jewish.

Hat tip: Twitter.com/ROFTERS

The Twin Cities

I was encouraged this week by some good folks in Minnesota.  

It all started with dinner with a handful of lawyers who desire to mentor law students in a meaningful, faithful way.  The Minnesota CLS attorney chapter does important work with local lawyers and the poor and needy in the Cities, and they are hoping to make this another of their important initiatives.  

I spent Tuesday afternoon with some fantastic law professors and students at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where the Christian Legal Society student chapter is hoping to be a part of the continuing building of spiritual community there.  

I enjoyed the hospitality of some colleagues and friends at St. Thomas.  I am grateful for Professor Rob Vischer's hospitality and wise counsel to students, and I look forward to his new book, due out next month, Conscience and the Common Good: Reclaiming the Space Between Person and State (Cambridge).   It was good to see Professor Susan Stabile, again, if just for a minute or two.  And I enjoyed being encouraged by Professor Teresas Collett and stories of her work in defense of human life and public reason. 

I spent Tuesday evening with a great group of lawyers and law students from the University of Minnesota and Hamiline Law, talking about the Lawyer's Calling and discussing ministry on campus.  I am impressed by their enthusiasm and mission-mindedness.

Finally, yesterday morning, I presented a CLE Seminar on Faith, Ethics, and the Practice of Law to a fun group of local attorneys.  Our discussion ranged from calling to integrity to duties surrounding client confidences.  It was a interesting group, and we had an edifying discussion.  

It's nice to return from a trip like this encouraged by how the Lord is using regular folks in extraordinary ways to do His work.  Great things are happening in the legal community in the Twin Cities! 

Thanks to Tom Pritchard and the Minnesota Family Council for making it possible for me to be there!

(I am however, still rooting for the Tigers in the pennant race.)

Professor Bill Stuntz on Suffering and the Gifts of God

Harvard Law Prof William Stuntz has written a beautiful meditation on the gifts that God gives with suffering to those who suffer.

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'Buck v. Bell, India Style' at Pryor Thoughts

Over at the relatively new (and fine) blog, Pryor Thoughts, my colleague Scott Pryor comments on an Indian case reminiscent of the infamous Buck v. Bell (1927).  

Have a look.

BTW, it's nice to be back after a summer teaching in the Regent Law School Summer Program in International Human Rights in Strasbourg. I'll post a debrief and some pics later.