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Reflections by Elenne Ford, Barrister,
Queensland
1. HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of the 10 day convocation
in Washington DC (Advocates International in conjunction with the Christian
Legal Society):
 | Personal testimonies of Federal Appeals Judge Paul Michel and Federal
District Court of Claims Judge Eric Bruggink (available on video from
Christian Legal Society in Queensland) and visit with Justice Antonin
Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court
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| Peacemaker Ministries seminar (books available from Christian Legal Society) |
| Church on Sunday - 5,000 members, choir/orchestra 205
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| Banquet for 1,000 - donations to CLS totalling more than
US$160,000/singing. |
2. ADVOCATES INTERNATIONAL
Launched in 1991, Advocates International ("Advocates") envisions a
global network of advocates committed to religious liberty, conflict resolution
and professional ethics. Itıs aim is to prepare and preserve the ground through
law for religious freedom, conflict resolution, and professional ethics.
Advocates patterns its approach after the model described by Jesus to a
lawyer in the parable of the Good Samaritan. It looks for "innkeepers"
those in law and related professions who are positioned to advance justice
now and in the future. Working relationally, professionally and spiritually,
Advocates: 1) builds meaningful relationships with those in leadership; 2) works
as law professionals on issues and cases on a pro bono basis; 3) seeks to
integrate spiritual truths in law and life.
With a full time staff of only 4-5 people Advocates has been involved in over
170 projects. For example:
| has been granted official consultative status at the U.N.and has a
representative in both Geneva and New York;
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| Albania: Advocates conducted judicial conferences for 150+ judges in 1993,
1994 and 1995, providing robes for all judges; co-chaired the 1996 religious
liberty conference; and provided input to the Constitution adopted on
November 22, 1998. The constitution has strong guarantees on religious
freedom, and Advocates will work with Albanian leaders and the courts in
their implementation.
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| Mongolia: Advocates gave input to a new Canon on Judicial Ethics in 1996;
co sponsored judicial seminars in 1997 in Mongolia and Washington;
co-chaired a religious liberty conference and established a Law Institute in
1998 which helped register the Union Bible Training Centre and cancel a
$39,000 fine. Advocates has been asked to give input to the Mongolian
Parliament on human rights and related issues.
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| Nepal: In 1993, Advocates established the Golden Rule Society and helped
register the Christian Evangelical Alliance. The Alliance organized a team
of 110 U.S. doctors and nurses to give medical aid to 8,000 refugees.
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| Russia: Advocates helped launch a legal aid ministry for Russian prisoners
in 1991 and has been a source of support ever since, helping over 8,000
inmates. In 1999, Advocates will continue to support this legal aid
ministry. |
Sam Ericsson the President of Advocates is a man who thinks BIG and steps out
in faith. He says that when we move beyond our beliefs and act upon those
beliefs, God will do the impossible - but we need to act on opportunities that
are presented.
3. PHILIP YANCEY
One of a number of impressive speakers at the Convocation in Washington DC
was Phillip Yancey, journalist and author of 16 books. He said:
| the church will always fail -the church is the only institution which is
founded on the principle that it will always fail - that we are human,
sinful and fallen. The reason we exist is that we know we will fail and are
in desperate need of Godıs help - it is why we come together in a Christian
convention/church. Our clinging together is not a way of saying we are
better than everyone else and weıll solve the problems of the world - its a
way of saying we will fail and we need help.
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| Jesus did not call us to clean up the world - its not our charge. Jesus
was not so concerned about cleaning up the world. When he used images of the
church/kingdom they were images of very small things - a little bit of salt
sprinkled on a pound of meat to preserve it, a little bit of yeast worked
into dough to cause the whole loaf to rise. Jesus said the kingdom of God is
like the smallest seed in the garden that when planted will grow into a
large tree. Jesus did not say to the woman at the well do you realize how
dangerous promiscuous sex can be? He asked her if she was thirsty and
whether she would like to know about water which was satisfying. |
Yancey challenged us, the church, that exists in a kingdom which causes us
great grief, hostility and persecution, to not take our orders and our image
from that kingdom but to march to the beat of a different drummer - to march as
citizens of the kingdom of God - committing ourselves to do Godıs will on earth
as it is in heaven. To act like a city on a hill, a light shining in darkness, a
new community that operates by different rules than the one we live in everyday.
4. WHERE TO FROM HERE
It is important that as Christian lawyers we do all that we can to be of
service to others. But first we must be the person God wants us to be. The
latter is much harder. As Charles Spurgeon said in respect of Martha ....
Her
fault was that she grew ³cumbered with much serving,² so that she forgot
Him, and only remembered the service. She allowed service to over-ride
communion, and so presented one duty stained with the blood of another. We
ought to be Martha and Mary in one; we should do much service, and have much
communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to
serve than to commune. Joshua never grew weary in fighting with the Amalekites;
but Moses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpers to sustain
his hands. The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The
choicest fruits are the hardest to rear; the most heavenly graces are the most
difficult to cultivate. Beloved, while we do no neglect external things, which
are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to it that we enjoy
living, personal fellowship with Jesus. See to it that sitting at the Saviourıs
feet is not neglected, even though it be under the specious pretext of doing
Him service. The first thing for our soulıs health, the first thing for His
glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in
perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital
spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in
the world.
When we become Christlike, people will be attracted to us as they were to
Christ and to John the Baptist - people came from far and wide to see and hear
them. If we become the persons God wants us to be we will not need to think
about ways we can serve - service will just happen as people come to us seeking
the answers to life that they see we have.
Let us consider how we can assist one another to become Christlike - to be a
light shining in darkness in our homes, our offices and our chambers.
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