One Week (5-6 Lectures + 3-4 Field Trips)

Option 4: One Week (5-6 Lectures + 3-4 Field Trips)

This option allows you to encounter both the cognitive as well as some experiential components that structure our reality and theology. Ideally, this option is done from Monday to Friday. You can choose five to six lectures and several field trips from the list below.

If participants are able to stay for the weekend, we recommend keeping Saturday as a free day for leisure and shopping, and Sunday for meditation as well as reflection. In addition, participants will be offered the option to attend a local church service on Sunday.

Lectures

1. Introduction to Arab Christian Theology: We will present a brief history of Arab followers of the triune God that shows the diversity of Christian church families. In addition, we will introduce major Palestinian theological movements and tendencies that respond to the major social, political, historical and theological challenges.
2. Islam: AMuslim Scholar will present in this lecture the major tenets and beliefs of Islam highlighting the ways in which they affect the contemporary Christian community and culture.
3. Judaism:An Israeli scholar will give an introduction to ancient Judaism and its history by considering major turning points and divisions within its history. Furthermore, we will relate modern Judaism in Israel today to ancient Judaism and study the different correspondences between them.
4. Messianic Christianity:A Messianic Christian will give a brief introduction to the history, theology and beliefs of Messianic Judaism. The lecture will also consider the major challenges facing Messianic Christians in Israel today.
5. The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict:The lecture will present the history of the conflict from a Palestinian perspective, starting from the rise of Zionism until the modern time, and the Palestinian Christian response to it.
6. Theology of the Land– Part 1:This lecture will present the major theological themes in the Old and New Testaments, with a special reference to the Palestinian Israeli conflict.
7. Theology of the Land – Part 2:This lecture will attempt to answer some major questions concerning the land today: Who owns the land? What are the boundaries of the land? Who should inherit the land? Who are the Israelites?
8. An Alternative to Zionism– Part 1: This lecture will introduce Christian Zionism and Dispensational theology and how both deal with the end times, prophecy and the Jewish people, and how all this impacts our region.
9. An Alternative to Zionism– Part 2:The biblical bases of Christian Zionism will be exposed, and an alternative Christian theology is proposed.The alternative will consider the concept of the two covenants and how the New Testament interprets the Old.
10. A Christian Response to Radical Islam: This lecture will look at the political, social, economical and religious backgrounds that led to the rise of radical Islam in the 21^st century. It will then suggesta biblical response to the rise of radical Islam today.
11. Reading the Old Testament in Palestine: Palestinian Christians struggle with the Old Testament because of its references to Israel inheriting the land of their fathers, and many call the church to abandon the Hebrew Scriptures. How should Palestinian theologians and church leaders in Palestine interpret the OT?
12. Pastoring in Palestine:A Palestinian pastor will speak about the major challenges and difficulties facing a pastor in Palestine, pointing out pasturing experiences in the days of fighting and military curfews in Bethlehem.
13. Pathways to Reconciliation:The lecture will present the biblical principles of reconciliation through the cross, and the church’s role and experience in reconciliation in the Holy Land – with a special reference to Musalaha – a ministry of Reconciliation between Messianic and Palestinian Christians. 
14. Peace, Justice and Non-Violence in the Palestinian Context:This lecture will present the biblical principles of justice, non-violence, and it will look at the peace building contributions of the Palestinian Church.

The Experiential Components:

1.      Bethlehem Area: This trip includes:

a.      Israeli Settlement:Bethlehem is surrounded by many settlements. The participant will see at sight what is considered as one the major obstacles to the peace process.

b.      The Separation Wall:A visit to multiple locations of the wall. Bethlehem is surrounded from all sides by the wall and at least two locations will be visited to see at sight the affects of this wall on the town of Bethlehem and the surrounding villages.

c.       Refugee Camp:Bethlehem has three refugee camps. Participants will take a tour in at least one of these camps and meet people there and listen to their stories and testimonies about daily life experiences, and ambitions.

d.     The Nativity Church:This forth century church is place of birth of our Lord Jesus.

The trip takes one whole day. The cost per participant is $80, and it includes transportation, tour guide and one mail meal. A minimum of 12 participants is required.

2.      Hebron: Although Hebron is a city of refuge in the Old Testament, no city in Palestine today exemplifies the conflict and the tension more than Hebron – with its divisions, checkpoints and settlements. Participants will also visit the Cave of the Patriarchs (the Ibrahimi Mosque) – a holy site for the three religions.

This trip takes half a day and allows the group to chose to have a lecture in the same day. The cost per participant is $65, and it includes transportation, tour guide and one mail meal. A minimum of 12 participants is required.

3.      Wadi Al Qalt:This is one of the best places to experience desert spirituality. It is a four hours hike from Jerusalem to Jericho through the Judean desert with a visit to Saint George – a Greek Orthodox Monastery. The hike will conclude with a visit to the city of Jericho.

This trip takes a whole day. The cost per participant is $80, and it includes transportation, tour guide, one mail meal and water. A minimum of 12 participants is required.

            4.      Jerusalem Visit the impressive sites of the Old City: HolySepulcher, Western Wall, city walls and gates, Dome of the Rock and      Al-Aqsa Mosque, Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives, Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Israel Museum.

            Part of the time is focused on “The Life and Times of Jesus” in which we visit main second temple period archeological sites that have               been excavated. Another part of the time focuses on gaining a better understanding of the Bible by teaching the geography of the Holy Land.

This triptakes a whole day. The cost is $110 per participant, and it includes transportation, guide, one main meal, waterand entrance fees to the Israel Museum. A minimum of 12 participants is required.

To arrange for the lectures and the field trip, contact us at registrar1@bethbc.org

Important additional information:

·        Each lecture is 90-120 minutes in length including 30 minutes Q&A. 

·        Lectures are offered Monday through Friday, and in special cases we might consider Saturdays, but not Sundays.

·        Lectures can be offered either in Bethlehem or at our extension in Nazareth.

·        The cost for the lectures is $500 per participant. This money will be used to cover the cost of lecturers as well as to support the school.                The cost for each field trip is mentioned next to it.

·        Snacks and refreshments are provided for the lectures.

·        Audiovisual recording of the lectures are available for purchase (depending on availability)

·        Lunch while at the College for the lectures can be provided upon request. Lunch for the field trips will be provided and is included in the prices above.

·        Accommodation for up to 30 people can be provided upon request. Please visit http://www.bethbc.com/guesthousefor all the details.

·        For more information, contact us at registrar1@bethbc.org

Financial Considerations: