CLF’s new look: CLF receives grant of armorial bearings
Christian Legal Fellowship was honoured to recently receive a grant of armorial bearings from the Canadian Heraldic Authority (CHA). CLF applied for the bearings in conjunction with its 40th Anniversary, a milestone reached in December 2018. The CHA is headed by the Governor General of Canada, and is the official body responsible for exercising the “Sovereign’s powers related to heraldry in Canada”, as per Letters Patent signed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.
As the CHA explains on its website, “a grant of armorial bearings is an honour conferred within the Canadian Honours System in recognition of service to the community.” Christian Legal Fellowship is deeply grateful for this honour, and for the CHA’s thoughtful and meticulous work in developing our heraldic emblems.
Heraldic emblems have afforded groups and families the ability to meaningfully express their core commitments and identities for centuries. Even before the development of heraldry in the twelfth century, communities associated around emblems as shared identifiers, dating back at least to the days of Moses (see e.g., Number 2:2). Banners and standards are also referenced throughout the Bible as a means of spiritual expression (e.g. Psalm 20:5, Psalm 60:4, Isaiah 13:2).
CLF is honoured to continue this tradition with its armorial bearings, which consist of a coat of arms, flag, and badge. Each contains rich symbolism reflecting CLF’s legal mandate, spiritual ethos, and commitment to justice. As the CHA explains on its website, these types of emblems “provide links between the past, the present, and the future”. CLF is delighted to see all three of these aspects of its story reflected in these new symbols, as explained in the statement of symbolism attached.
CLF’s armorial bearings were designed by Assiniboine Herald Darrel Kennedy (assisted by the heralds of the CHA), who graciously welcomed input from CLF in developing the artwork and associated artwork. CLF’s armorial bearings were granted by way of a special letters patent signed by the Chief Herald of Canada and Herald Chancellor, and have now been formally entered into the Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada.
The armorial bearings were unveiled to CLF’s membership at the 2019 National Conference in Mississauga, ON, accompanied by written notes of congratulations from both the Governor General of Canada and the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (which were issued for CLF’s 40th Anniversary celebration and reproduced with special permission).
The armorial bearings will be integrated into CLF’s official branding and new logo as we embark on our next 40 years of community service. We look forward to continuing our work under this new banner and motto, “JUSTE MISCERICORDITER HUMILITER” (meaning “Justly, mercifully, humbly”), emphasizing our calling to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).
See our new armorial bearings, and an explanation of their symbolism, below:
Backgrounder of the
Badge and Coat of Arms*
*Taken from the Christian Legal Journal, Vol. 28, Issue 3 (2019)
Statement of Symbolism**
(Click the “[ ]” icon in the bottom right corner to enable full screen mode.)
**Taken from the document “Symbolism of the Heraldic Emblems of the Christian Legal Fellowship”, published by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada, Volume VIII, page 121, 20 September 2018.