I had to share this brief reflection from Pete Hileman on our second annual Pro Deo Conference. It was such a rich time. Thank you for holding us in prayer throughout the busy month of March. Indeed, God did wonderful things!

"The Work of God is Happening Everywhere, and Cannot be Contained!" 

Reflections from the Pro Deo Conference (March 22-23rd at Arch Street United Methodist Church downtown)

 By Pete Hileman, Executive Director
(Quotations from conference attendees)

The Pro Deo Conference was wonderful. We had over 40 lawyers, paralegals, law students, and friends in attendance over Friday night and Saturday. We worked hard to pull it off and as Ted, Katharine and I arrived at our offices and unpacked afterward, we were exhausted. But it was that good kind of exhaustion where you are spent, knowing you've served the Lord.

 

“I have a refreshed sense of God’s will in my career.” 

We caught a glimpse of how God is using us. We Christian legal professionals are being salt and light throughout the city, in the District Attorney’s office, working for the City Solicitor, in powerful Center City law firms, small firms, solo practices, and public interest legal organizations. We are all races, ages, and church backgrounds.

 

“I was hoping to be encouraged after a long week, and my expectations were exceeded!"

The highlights were many. Elizabeth Hernandez from Place of Refuge spoke of the heart of an advocate and described her love and compassion for the individuals she counsels in North Philadelphia, our neighborhood.  Kesha James, a staff attorney at Legal Aid Services of Southeastern PA, taught us how to help clients going through foreclosures and gave us practical resources we will use at our clinic sites for years to come. Timothy Welbeck, known by his stage name the Red Baron, performed his own Christian rap music with lyrics about pursuing Christ, lamenting the violence in our streets, and even surviving law school. New friendships and communities were springing up right before our eyes.

 

“I have a new mind toward the sensitivities of hurt individuals and my own brokenness.”

 

Throughout, the emphasis was on spiritual formation, how our devotional life leads us and prepares us to advocate. Each speaker shared how they express their faith in their work, and how hard it is. Ted and I shared a segment on the Spirituality of an Advocate and led out in repentance over our self-righteousness (Ted) and arrogance (me), professing the need to be sanctified every morning for our work to be of any benefit. One lawyer friend came up to me after the conference was over and said: “Pete, I expected to receive helpful information for my practice; I didn’t come expecting to be moved to tears.”

Indeed, the work of God is happening everywhere--including in the hearts of Philadelphia's lawyers--and it cannot be contained!

 

 

See our Pro Deo photo album here:

Pro Deo 2013!

 

Drexel Law's spring break project

A few pictures from CLCP's week with the Drexel Law's alternative spring break group:

A slideshow design by Smilebox

Also, take a few minutes to skim the blog they produced that week, to hear about what they did. Reading their posts seriously gave me chills, as they describe what some of their interactions from the week meant to them.

Yet again, please be in prayer for this week's BIG EVENTS: the Pro Deo Conference '13. This is CLCP's 2nd Annual conference designed to gather Christian law students and lawyers to discuss the possibilities of working in the legal field to advance God's Kingdom. This is another one of Ted's projects he has been very enthusiastic about. Check out the details for it here.

Please pray for our legal clinic

This month, we have two special programs we are launching: community legal education seminars and the Drexel spring break trip. We also have our regular, bi-weekly clinics, one "tour" of our ministry, and the second annual Pro Deo Conference. Pray that the clinic (CLCP) will be a place where Christ continually abides, where we will lean on Him, and take joy in the many ways we see His hand at work. More details to come this week!

A year in review

It's pretty amazing for me to look back at this last year of blog posts. One year ago, I was posting about my application for the Reconciliation conference at Duke Divinity School, the dinners we hosted for the legal clinic team, and plans for CLCP's first Pro Deo Conference.

Today, Ted is typing away to promote our second annual Pro Deo Conference, I am trying to decide on drinks and appetizers for our clinic team "debrief" this Thursday, and the themes from the Duke Reconciliation conference still weave their way into my reflections on my life and faith - many of which will be picked up at this weekend's much talked about Justice Conference in downtown Philadelphia.

In between these markers, it's been quite a year. One month after registering for the Reconciliation conference, I witnessed a shooting on our block, while nannying for my neighbor's baby. That sent me on a several month journey that included seeing a counselor and going away more regularly for a day or two at a time to help handle the trauma (Wayne, Glenside, California, Maryland and even a long weekend in Orlando in December.) The Duke conference was thought-provoking and allowed me to hear some key messages from God. It was also great for getting away to a beautiful space, but on the deepest level I found myself wondering, "what does this all mean for me?"

The day I returned from the conference, God blessed us with a housemate, Janira, who is still living with us. Two months later, I decided to quit my nanny job and started to dig into my new part-time job as director of development at CLCP. I continued working Wednesday and Thursday morning's at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church. As a part of my processing journey, I've been asking for awhile what God is shaping me for and what plans He has for me. I am excited for the women's retreat coming up at my church in April, which will center on the theme: "finding our identity in Christ." This syncs with another layer of what God has been teaching me, that who I am is founded in Him; it will never be defined by my work, by others, or outside circumstances.

"Because I live, you also will live." - John 14:19

On that note, I'll close ;)

(Is there something you'd like to hear more about? Say it in the "comments" section below, and I'll write more about it.)

Pro Deo 2012

Thanks to all of you who prayed for the 2012 Pro Deo Conference that happened last weekend (3/17 - 3/18). The Conference was hosted by Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia (CLCP), and it brought together about 30 law students, lawyers, paralegals, and even a few undergrads who were passionate about exploring their role in bringing justice in ways that reflect God's crazy love for this world.

Our church, where the
conference was held.

During the conference, an elder from our church, Barb Weidman, spoke vividly on the meaning of shalom and the depth of our world's brokenness as a result of the fall; three women from our church and one from CLCP's board shared about being women of faith in the legal profession; a young attorney spoke on how she prayerfully responds to the injustices experienced in her firm surrounding issues of race and gender; CLCP's executive director, Pete Hileman, shared about mediation and Christian peacemaking, a powerful ministry of which he is a part; Dr. Ron Sider also came and gave a talk on the Biblical meanings of justice.

From what I heard, it sounds like participants left invigorated, stimulated... and exhausted! :) Most everyone indicated on their conference evaluation forms that they would come back for a Pro Deo Conference next year - what great feedback!

On the opening day of the conference, I had the opportunity to help with many last-minute preparations, hear Barb's opening talk, and listen with anticipation to Ted's address on "a vision for pro deo lawyering!" (see links under the photos) He was filled with enthusiasm and gusto as he gave his talk, and I was so happy to see him well-received by all.

Another big event for Ted, and for CLCP! Thank you for your prayers!

 

Ron Sider's talk

 

Ted's talk

   

Pete's talk

You can also listen to the Women of Faith in the Law panel here.

Pro Deo time!

Tomorrow night, 6pm, marks the start of CLCP's first ever Pro Deo Conference.  One of Ted's dream projects since he was in law school, the Pro Deo Conference will be "a place for lawyers, paralegals, students and friends to gather, celebrate  and articulate answers to difficult questions. Questions like “What is my calling as a Christian in the law?”, “If Christ was a lawyer, what would his practice look like? and “How is a Christian attorney different from any other?”

The name is a play on the Latin pro bono, meaning "for the public good." What if we saw our work primarily as pro deo, for God, instead? How would that drive our sense of work and vocation differently?

Talks include, Shalom, Biblical Foundation for Justice, Biblical Peacemaking, Contemplating God at the Law Firm, Women of Faith in the Law, Corporate Social Responsibility, and A Vision for Pro Deo Lawyering. Phew! And guess who is giving that last presentation?  None other than Mr. T.A. Oswald himself! ;)

It is set to be a monumental event, but we desire your prayers! Please pray as 40+ participants gather at our church for fellowship and discussion. Pray particularly for the speakers, as they prepare to share wisdom and cast a vision for young and seasoned lawyers alike who want to utilize their gifts and skills to be salt and light in this earth.

www.clcphila.org/wp/pro-deo-conference/