The Second Conference on Law and Religion in Africa took place at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 May 2014. Some 60 scholars, legal professionals, and religious leaders from 15 countries participated in this conference, focusing on the theme  “Law and Religion in Africa – The Quest for the Common Good in Pluralistic Societies.”

As a major event of the conference, the new African Consortium for Law and Religion Studies (ACLARS) was officially launched, with Prof dr Pieter Coertzen as President. Published papers from the First Conference on Law and Religion in Africa, “Comparative Practices, Experiences, and Prospects” – which was held in Legon, Ghana, in 2013 – were made available. 

The conference was opened with welcome addresses by conference organizers Pieter Coertzen and W. Cole Durham, Jr. Keynote addresses were given by Justice Albie Sachs, Emeritus Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and Chief Justice, Mogoeng Mogoeng, current Chief Justice of the Court. Concluding remarks on Wednesday afternoon were given by Rik Torfs, Rector of the University of Leuven. 

Attending from Brigham Young University, including Professor Durham, who is Director of the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, were Center Associate Director and Law School Associate Dean Brett Scharffs, and Center Managing Director Robert Smith.