About

In the old days of faith, pro deo had a hefty and robust meaning that has been all but lost.  Today, all such service in the law is filed under the labels of “pro bono” (short for pro bono publico, i.e. ”for the public good” or public interest).  The fact so many lawyers hold volunteer work in high esteem is commendable. But those of us creating this blogging community believe pro deo can mean a good deal more than the term presently conveys.

We’re convinced pro deo isn’t just a Christian label to re-brand secularized pro bono work. It is a transformative and holistic way of lawyering that puts Christ at the center, a paradigm shift that has implications for every area of our lives and work regardless of one’s field or discipline, and is not just limited to service for the poor.

We hope this blog will stitch together a new community of legal professionals who share our values and concerns. The threads that bind us together are Christ and our commitment to the law. The community’s weave, its design and pattern, will become more apparent in the months ahead but there are a few things we plan to offer from the outset:

• Articulating a vision for pro deo lawyering: We want to gradually share what we think reclaiming the phrase “Pro Deo” can mean for work in the law today.
• Commentary on current events and matters of conscience: Local, national and international news demands our attention daily.  We want to participate in the conversation around moral and ethical issues.
• Prayers: We believe that prayer is essential…for ourselves, our clients, our families, our friends (and adversaries), our nation, and our world.  You can expect that we’ll share our prayers with you, in the hope God will use them to encourage us, strengthen us, break us, heal us, and bring us closer to one another.

So blessings to you. We’re grateful you’re here in our midst and hope you’ll stay and contribute to these conversations. 

What We Believe

The Pro Deo editors are committed followers of Christ and take the Nicene Creed as their own.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.