Studying Holy Scripture at the sites where Jesus, Paul, Abraham and the desert mothers and fathers lived and breathed. Meeting with and learning about the history, people and the breadth and diversity of Christian spirituality in the Holy Land.

12 days, 1 month or even longer with others encountering the roots of and the present reality of the Hebrew, Christian and Muslim experience in the Middle East. These opportunities are gifts from the work and ministry of St. George’s College, Jerusalem, a unique center of continuing education in the Anglican Communion, offering short-term courses as well as facilities for individual reflection and study for both clergy and laity. Hosting successfully since 1962 participants from 92 countries and 96 Christian traditions, St. George’s gives a participant in its programs or visits ample opportunity to meet and get to know a variety of fellow Christians and seekers while deepening one’s faith, expanding one’s knowledge and acquiring a “new family” composed of one’s fellow pilgrims, instructors and the people of the Holy Land.

Five minutes walk from the Old City of Jerusalem, St. George’s is conveniently situated not only to go and see major holy sites, but also to meet with local Jews, Christians and Muslims, as well as to gain some basic understanding of what is going on in the Holy Land today and how one might respond to the today’s challenges in the Middle East context. The self-transformation and transformation in community that take place in each St. George’s course invite different ways of understanding faith. New perspectives on old problems emerge; entrenched presuppositions are challenged and enlightening experiences enable growth and new life.

Tuition fees from USD2180-USD4000 cover from 12 days up to 1 month’s worth of instruction, meals, accommodations and fees. Further, scholarship assistance is available. Course offerings include general introduction to the spirituality, people and places (Abraham Yesterday and Today, Palestine of Jesus, Ways in the Wilderness) and introductions to specific Christian denominations such as a course on Eastern Orthodox liturgical tradition (Holy Fire). For those attracted to St. Paul and his mission journey into Western Asia and Europe, there is a course which includes site visits to Turkey and Greece.

St. George’s College, Jerusalem looks forward to hearing from anyone about their how St. George’s can help illuminate and support an individual’s or a group’s spiritual growth and learning by offering on-site visit opportunities and quality learning. For the fastest response, please email them at registrar@stgeorges.org.il or fax them at 011-972-2-626-4703. And please visit their web site at http://www.sgc.jerusalem.org to view a full listing of their courses.

Dr. John Charles Bannon of St. Mark’s College receives the Order of Australia

Dr. John Bannon, CUAC board member representing Australia, has received the second highest honor that can be bestowed in Australia: induction as an Officer of the Order of Australia. The Honorable Dr. John Bannon, AO is well known in the Asia-Pacific region for his leadership as Labor Premier of South Australia between 1982 and 1992. Dr. Bannon received this recognition “for service to politics and to the South Australian Parliament, to history, particularly through researching and publishing in the subject area of Australian Federation; and to the community through sporting, cultural and welfare organizations.” Continuing to serve as a director or chairman of numerous organizations, including, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Bannon continues to serve as Master of St. Mark’s College, located in North Adelaide with a 200+ student population and conducted under the auspices of the Anglican Church of Australia.