The following is a report on the 2018 National Conference, held from September 26 to 30 in New Westminster, British Columbia.

“God placed Adam in the garden to mirror Him by working it and keeping it. The great Creator has created us to create—to work. As Adam’s descendants and God’s creatures, we are cultivators in a fallen world. Still bearing the image of God, we continue to mirror the great Creator as creators, cultivators, and workers—we are culture makers.”

On June 28, 2018, Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF) hosted a Book Launch Luncheon at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law to commemorate the launch of the new book: Assisted Death: Legal, Social and Ethical Issues after Carter, edited by CLF’s Executive Director and General Counsel, Derek B.M. Ross. This is a summary of the event.

On June 1, 2018 at Cassels Brock (Downtown Toronto) Christian Legal Fellowship held a seminar on female victims of religious persecution. Emma presented on the theme, “Religious Persecution is not Gender-blind”. This is a summary of the presentation.

“Some might think this is a good outcome. But diversity is not achieved, as the dissent explained, ‘by imposing a forced choice between conformity with a single majoritarian norm and withdrawal from the public square.’ Nor is it achieved by forcing minority communities to alter their defining characteristics to ensure that all people will want to join them. That an institution serves primarily people who affirm its mission and beliefs does not mean that it does so at the expense of others.”

OTTAWA, ON — In two companion judgments released today, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) was split on whether it was reasonable for the Law Societies to deny approval to Trinity Western University’s proposed law school based on its Community Covenant and the Biblical view of marriage expressed therein. 

“Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and it is happening in Canada.” - CLF Brief to Parliament

We are very pleased to announce the publication of a new book edited by CLF's Derek B.M. Ross: Assisted Death: Legal, Social and Ethical Issues after Carter.

Christian Legal Fellowship welcomed 34 delegates at its 10th Annual Christian Legal Institute. Read more in this report.

When, if ever, can church membership or discipline decisions be reviewed by the courts? That is the question the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) was called on to answer in its judgment, released today, in Highwood Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses v Wall. The Court found that church membership decisions can only be reviewed in extremely narrow circumstances: when the decision involves an underlying legal right, such as a property or contractual right, and does not require the court to adjudicate questions of theology.

“Today’s decision is not only a victory for church autonomy, but for a truly robust and multicultural civil society.”

Did you know that Rev. Billy Graham once presented a special message to the American Bar Association at its AGM in Montreal, Quebec? Read more in this post.

On Saturday, April 7, at the historic Osgoode Hall Courthouse (Toronto), CLF's founders, members, directors, staff, supporters, and friends gathered from across Canada for a sold-out Gala to celebrate 40 years of the ministry of Christian Legal Fellowship.

Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF) has been granted leave to intervene in Truchon v. Procureur général du Canada, a legal challenge seeking to expand access to euthanasia for patients who are not dying or terminally ill. 
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Joint statement from Christian Legal Fellowship, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Rabbinical Council of America, Canadian Council of Christian Charities, The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, Canadian Council of Imams, and The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and there be any praise, think on these things.

"Requiring someone to participate against their will in ending another person’s life is unconscionable in a free and democratic society." - Derek Ross

"Some may wonder what the 'kerfuffle' is about, and assert that, in 2018, it is not unreasonable to expect Canadians to get in line with contemporary values. That may be satisfactory as long as one’s ideological allies form the government of the day. But what happens when a new government articulates a contrary set of 'values'?"

Charter rights are not competitors in a zero sum game. They can be fully exercised in co-existence, as this Court recognized in 2001. And since that time, both equality rights and religious freedom have enjoyed expanding interpretations: in tandem, not competition. In the very context of expanding equality rights on the grounds of sexual orientation, religious freedom has been strongly affirmed

"The judgment will certainly be a significant one, and will likely find its way into the next edition of constitutional and administrative law casebooks read by all Canadian law students."