The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship

Abbreviation LCF
Formation 1852
Type Christian legal network
Headquarters Southwark, London, United Kingdom
Key people
 Ian Miller, Chairman
Mark Barrell, Executive Director
Website lawcf.org

The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship is a Christian organisation in the United Kingdom which professes a membership of more than 2,000 Christian lawyers.[1] The organisation's website states that its vision is to bring the whole Good News of Jesus Christ within the legal world.[2]

History

The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship was founded in 1852 as the Lawyers' Prayer Union, and was subsequently renamed Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship. The LCF states on its website that it has a long history of uniting and equipping Christian lawyers and witnessing to members of the legal profession. The LCF claims that in its 150 years of activity it has impacted both individual lives and the wider legal landscape through its commitment to the Bible's teaching. Since its inception as a prayer union, the scope of LCF’s work has grown with the support of such patrons as Lord Denning and Lord Mackay of Clashfern.[1]

In 2008 they made representations regarding the passing of the Human Fertilisation and Embryo Bill.

Current activity

The LCF claims it has an expanding membership of more than 2,000 Christian lawyers, with a network of regional groups spanning Britain.

The work of the LCF has developed into three main areas: the legal workplace, amongst law students and young lawyers and internationally.[3]

Local workplace groups meet across the UK to study, pray and encourage evangelism.[4] There are approximately 1,200 students and young lawyers, and approximately 30 groups, meeting in universities and law schools throughout the UK. Two annual weekend conferences are held by the LCF for general members and for students and young lawyers.

The LCF has particularly strong international links in East Africa,[1] where the organisation partners with Christian lawyers and legal aid projects in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The support from the LCF includes sending interns, teams of law students and practitioners, and financial support. The LCF also has links with Christian legal groups in the US, Europe and Burundi and Mozambique.

Vision

According to the LCF website, its members aim "to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). The LCF website states that the LCF's vision is encouraging its members to:

The LCF also believes in enabling its members through information, teaching, and support to fulfill their full potential as lawyers for Christ. They believe in witnessing to the legal profession by speaking of the Christian gospel and demonstrating God's character of justice and compassion by upholding Christian values in the administration of law at home and overseas.[1]

Notable media coverage

On 6 September 2010, the BBC World Service documentary The Legal World[5] highlighted the CLEAR project of LCF and its partner, the Ugandan Christian Lawyers Fraternity, in the Ugandan criminal justice system. BBC reporter Brian King met the UCLF Acting Project Director Eunice Nabafu as she advised clients, prepared cases and appeared in court. The programme followed the case of one man, Beyonce Alam, as he awaited trial for defilement. The project represented Alam free of charge in the absence of any state-funded defence. King spoke to Edward Sekabanja, President of UCLF, the head of the Ugandan Prison Service, Dr Johnson Byabasaija and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Richard Butera about the impact of the project.[6]

In May 2008, the British current affairs programme, Dispatches, presented a feature entitled In God's Name. The programme explored the growing influence of the Christian evangelical movement in the UK and highlighted LCF's involvement in lobbying the UK Government on issues such as abortion, gay rights and laws relating to blasphemy. The activities of the then LCF Director of Public Policy, Andrea Minichiello Williams, were examined; including footage of her meetings with Conservative politicians Norman Tebbit and Nadine Dorries.[7][8] Williams was reported as making a number of controversial statements, including claims that the Human Fertilisation bill was 'the work of the devil', that abortion should be illegal, homosexuality is sinful and the world is just 4,000 years old.[7] Williams no longer works for LCF and is presently employed by Christian Concern.[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 www.lawcf.org - About Us
  2. 1 2 "Mission & Vision - About - Lawyers' Christian Fellowship". lawcf.org. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  3. ↑ "Lawyers' Christian Fellowship - The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship exists to bring the whole Good News of Jesus Christ within the legal world". www.lawcf.org. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  4. ↑ www.lawcf.org - People
  5. ↑ www.bbc.co.uk - BBC World Service Legal World Documentary
  6. ↑ LCF Review of BBS Legal World Documentary
  7. 1 2 The Independent 'Dispatches: Making a giant leap of faith'
  8. ↑ www.telegraph.co.uk - David Modell article published 18 May 2008
  9. ↑ "People | Christian Concern". www.christianconcern.com. Retrieved 2015-10-13.

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