Peace Not Walls Young Adult Holy Land Trip

Peace Not Walls Young Adult Holy Land Trip Application

Join us for a young adult trip to Palestine and Israel and embark upon a pilgrimage of justice and peace in the Holy Land.

Laura Gerstl and Meredith Harber, representatives of the Peace Not Walls campaign of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, would like to invite young adults (age 18-30) to apply for the Young Adult Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, June 4-14, 2015. This is an opportunity to travel to Palestine and Israel on an experiential learning trip with other young adults for the purpose of building awareness around issues of justice and peace in the Holy Land.

Peace Not Walls (http://www.elca.org/peacenotwalls) is a campaign of the ELCA that was adopted in 2005 to urge members, congregations, synods and the churchwide organization to stand for justice in the Holy Land. The campaign focuses on accompaniment, awareness-building, and advocacy. This trip is the product of a partnership between Peace Not Walls and Young Adult Ministry which was developed to create a network of young adults who lead trips for their peers to the Holy land with the express purposes of:

1.Accompanying local Lutherans and Christians in Israel and Palestine;
2.Educating participants about the conflict in Israel and Palestine;
3.Sharing the religious, political and social history of the region;
4.Deepening faith and identity of travelers as they build relationships with global neighbors;
5.Connecting with the ELCA's efforts through the Peace Not Walls Campaign by practicing accompaniment, raising awareness and engaging in advocacy;
6.Building a base of individuals who not only travel but return home to engage their local contexts in issues of peace and justice.

The basics:

When: June 4-14, 2015 (travel days included)

What will we do in Palestine and Israel? We will visit key sites in and around Jerusalem and seek to build relationships with local Lutherans, other Christians and representatives of the Jewish and Islamic faiths, who are engaged in the pursuit of peace in the Holy Land. We will connect with Palestinians and Israelis working for peace and justice.

Where will we stay? Various locations through Palestine and Israel.

Cost: $1,275 (includes lodging, all meals, transportation, tour guide fees, entrance fees, tips)
*Airfare to Tel Aviv, Israel, is not included in this price. As of 11/14/14, the cheapest tickets from Tulsa and Detroit are approximately $1,450.

What will we do in the United States? We will meet via conference call and video conference before and after the trip to learn about the historical, religious, socio-political, and cultural context of the region, leadership development, advocacy, and community organizing.

What are my responsibilities? Everyone who joins the trip will be encouraged to facilitate local engagement with the Peace Not Walls campaign in partnership with their home communities, including at least one public presentation in the participant's local community. All participants should prepared to walk three miles a day (no cars are allowed in the Old City of Jerusalem).

Preference given to applicants aged 18-30 and affiliated with an ELCA congregation or ministry setting in the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, the North/West Lower Michigan Synod or the Southeast Michigan Synod of the ELCA.

Please fill out the application below to be considered for this opportunity. We are looking forward to receiving your submission!

Apply here!

The deadline for applications is January 1, 2015.

Email Laura Gerstl (laura.gerstl@gmail.com) or Meredith Harber (meredith.harber@gmail.com) with questions and concerns.

Please fill out this application by January 1st, 2015, if you'd like to join us on the trip.

Peace Not Walls Young Adult Holy Land Trip

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Application

Hello!