Our Proposal

The Emmaus Justice Initiative greatly appreciates the opportunity to submit to the Emmaus Church Council a proposal to adopt the Emmaus Justice Initiative logo as one of the emblems/icons that currently inform the Emmaus congregation of its foundational identities and values. We recognize that each of the emblems stand alone with unique significance to our faithlife at Emmaus. We believe as well, that all of the logos including the symbol “Reconciliation” are entwined into the core foundation of who, what and why Emmaus says we are in God’s kingdom.

The logo is based on the Adinkra symbol for “Reconciliation”

The icon used in the Emmaus Justice Initiative logo is inspired by an Adinkra symbol known as “mpatapo,” which means “knot of reconciliation.” It is a symbol of peacemaking and conflict resolution, with the knot representing the binding of parties in dispute to harmonious reconciliation. In our logo, we present the image of the knot rotated from its traditional square orientation into a cross shape, acknowledging the source of our call to peace and reconciliation, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. We also understand the interwoven nature of the knot to represent the need for all of us to work together to achieve justice in our communities.

About Adinkra Symbols

Adinkra are a traditional set of symbols developed by the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, possibly in the early 1800s, and perhaps earlier, and closely associated with Asante (Ashanti) culture today. The symbols are used primarily in ornamental cloth, especially funeral attire, but also in jewelry and other decorative arts. Each Adinkra symbol has a name in the Twi language and represents a specific cultural concept or aspect of life. These symbols are both beautiful and infused with meaning, and as the Emmaus Justice Initiative was founded with a focus on racial justice, an icon with roots in Africa seemed a fitting graphic to represent our mission.