Each trip will have a local coordinator for information, registration and travel arrangements. All overseas arrangements for tours, home visits, meals and lodging will be managed in Israel-Palestine by an experienced tour manager with whom the sponsors have had previous experience.

These trips are sponsored by the New Jersey Israel-Palestine Education Group (NJIPEG) composed of members of six New Jersey Presbyteries including the Newark Presbytery Middle East Work Group, chaired by Rev. Charles Rawlings and the New Brunswick Presbytery Action Group convened by Rev. Dr. Gordon Mikoski, who serves as chair of NJIPEG.

Guidelines
for Presbyterian-related Trips
to Israel and The West Bank

1. Overarching framework
• Religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land
    Peacemaking, reconciliation, respect for narratives of all involved, and advocacy for faithful justice and
nonviolence
    Presbyterian initiatives that welcome participants from ecumenical partners

2. Intended Outcomes
• Deeper knowledge of biblical and historical dimensions of vital Christian faith
• Initiation or strengthening of partnerships and solidarity with Christian churches in Israel and the West Bank
• Appreciation for the complex range of Palestinian and Jewish narratives and development of ability to articulate
those narratives in a way that can facilitate dialogue with Jewish and Muslim partners in the U.S. context
• Commitment to participating in national networks of Presbyterians and ecumenical partner networks who have
participated in a Presbyterian-related or ecumenical trip and to support efforts to educate and advocate for a just
and durable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Identification of a potential partner(s) with whom to enter into a longer-term relationship or partnership
• Commitment to advocate for a just peace within the PC(USA) and with members of legislative and executive
branches of U.S. government
• Commitment to educate U.S. Presbyterians from an “on-the-ground” perspective and to deepen the peace witness
of individual Presbyterians, congregations, presbyteries, and the General Assembly

3. Key Principles
• Seek out multiplicity of views and “balance”
• Experience home stays with both Palestinian and Israeli families
• Develop significant West Bank exposure
• Share in fellowship and worship with Christian communities and their leaders
• Integrate worship and prayer into daily group life
• Converse with PCUSA contacts on the ground (whenever possible)
• Keep costs within range of affordability (e.g. $2,500-2,700 for 12-14 days)
• Prepare adequately (especially through study of religious, historical, and political dimensions of the situation)
• Commit to provide interpretative and advocacy leadership to churches and other groups upon return

4. Resources
A. Connections
• Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the PUCSA
    http://www.pcusa.org/worldwide/israelpalestine/
    To join contact: kmatsu [at] aol [dot] com
• The Middle East office of the PC(USA) www.pcusa.org/worldwide/israelpalestine/
• The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the PC(USA)
www.pcusa.org/worldwide/israelpalestine/palestinemissionnetwork.htm
• PCUSA Peacemaking Program (http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/)
• Presbyterian Peace Fellowship (http://www.presbypeacefellowship.org/)
• Churches for Middle East Peace (http://www.cmep.org/)
Each trip participant will be asked to do reading and study in advance of their
pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Suggested bibliography for reading will be sent as
soon as a participant has registered for a trip. Each trip will also have a leader-
coordinator who will convene participants for prayer, bible study and reflection to-
gether before the trip.

For more info contact:
Jan Everett
jeverett68 [at] comcast [dot] net
609-647-8638