An AnnualReport of the

British RegionalCommittee of St.George’s College,

JerusalemJANUARY 2012

EDITORIALA very happy New Year to all our readers!Welcome to this edition of UPDATE which celebrates theFiftieth Anniversary of the foundation of St. George's College.To mark the occasion we welcome contributions from the firsttwo Principals, and the most recent one, Stephen Need. TheRevd. Felix Boyse L.V.O. now in his mid-nineties opened theCollege in 1962 and became Chaplain of the Chapel- Royal atHampton Court Palace, in-1965. He contributes somereminiscences of those earliest days. He was succeeded 'byCanon John' Wilkinson, Dean until 1975, after which hebecame the Director of the British School of Archaeology inJerusalem from 1979-1985, where he wrote the influential"Jerusalem as Jesus Knew It". He remain's a member of theBritish Friends of the College and is often to be seen at ourannual gatherings. His other works include - "JerusalemPilgrims Before the Crusades" and the travels of the nunEtheria from Spain to Jerusalem 383-6. We hope thisAnniversary will encourage a bumper attendance at thisyear's gathering which is on Thursday 3rd May at HeythropCollege,23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HN at 10am until3-30pm. The lecture will be given by Dom HenryWansbrough, OSB

Dom Henry is no stranger to St. Georges College andhas chosen as his title “A land without a people for a peoplewithout land??”

Dom Henry was a monk of Ampleforth, NorthYorkshire, formerly Chairman of the Oxford UniversityTheology Faculty, Master of St. Benet's Hall, Oxford and amember of the Pope’s Biblical Commission. He is the authorof "The Use and Abuse of the Bible - A brief History of BiblicalInterpretation". The book brings to life the ways in whichscripture has been understood and used through the ages.There is a series of chapters about the early centuries of thechurch, Origen, Jerome, St. Bede; The High Middle Agesfocusing on Bernard and Thomas Aquinas, Julian of Norwichand Margery Kempe, Luther, Early Seventeenth CenturyEngland, John and Charles Wesley,

John Henry Newman and, especially relevant for ourpurposes, The Bible and the State of Israel. We can be sure ofa fascinating and informative lecture from an expert whowears his learning lightly.

Our thanks to all who have contributed to this Issue.John Barclay is Lightfoot Professor of Divinity at DurhamUniversity and has spent several seasons as visiting lecturer atSt. George's College.

We welcome to the Committee Canon MichaelSansom, formerly Vice Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridgewho has recently retired from being Diocesan Director ofOrdinands of St. Albans Diocese.

Also the new Dean The Revd. Dr Graham Smith who

introduces himself on page 3 and whom we hope to greet inperson at the Annual Gathering on May 3rd.

Kamal Farah has been appointed Course Directorreplacing Andrew Mayes, who has become Rector of EastBlackington and Bishopstone, and Spirituality Adviser of theDiocesan Mission & Renewal Team in Chichester Diocese. Heremains Hon. Canon of the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Need who is now parttime Priest-in-Charge of the Parishes of Stock with WestHanningfield in Chelmsford Diocese. Also to CommitteeMember Susan Cooper who has been appointed to theAppointments Committee of General Synod, as well as to theHouse of Laity Standing Committee and theAudit Committeeof the Archbishop's Council.

The Revd. John Westwood has assumedresponsibility for Diocesan Representatives for the College.

We record with regret the death of one of ourmembers, the Revd. John Carden who died on 3rd July aged87. He was Asia Secretary of CMS from 1970-76 and had spentten years as a Missionary Priest in Pakistan. He wrotenumerous collections of Prayers and meditations including"Another Day" produced when serving in Amman. His lastassignment was as a consultant with the World Council ofChurches in Geneva for two years from 1987.Our Treasurer, John Angle announces an InternationalConference in Bethlehem, March 5th-9th 2012 at BethlehemBible College about the issues of peace, justice andreconciliation. Speakers include Alex Awad and Stephen Sizerwho have lectured at our Annual Gatherings recently andLynne Hybels from Willow Creek Community Church inChicago. Further details www.christatthecheckpoint.com

And finally …How nice it would be if everyone onour database could manage to mark this 50th Anniversary ofthe College by getting to the Annual Gathering at HeythropCollege. It would be a terrific encouragement to the new Deanto meet his British supporters and we should be sure of aninspiring sermon from Bishop John Taylor, formerly ourChairman's "boss" at St. Albans. Bishop Taylor's associationwith the Holy Land began in the fifties when he was a studentat the Hebrew University and the Swedish TheologicalInstitute in Prophets Street.Also it would be great to see far more U.K. students attendingcourses at the College than has been the case recently. Some ofthis year's course members have written accounts in this Issuefor which we are grateful and they speak for themselves. Thematter of cost need not be an issue for generous bursaries areavailable - just contact our Treasurer, John Angle.Please do not forget to inform the Secretary, Paul Conder ofany change of address.College website: sgcjerusalem.orgPaul Conder

ST. GEORGE’SUPDATE 50th Anniversary Edition

The great news is: St George's College has a new Dean.As you will read in his personal introduction the RevdDr Graham Smith, an experienced parish priest who hasserved all his time in the USA and who is a good friendof the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, hasbeen appointed; and with his wife, Sherry, is now in StGeorge's Close in Jerusalem. Please pray for them asthey settle into a totally new environment and a verydifferent ministry.

The Selection Process had proved a tortuous one andlasted several months, but eventually Graham Smith wasidentified as the ideal candidate, with pastoral,administrative and teaching skills and a deep spirituallife. We should count ourselves fortunate indeed, and welook forward with great anticipation to all that God hasfor St George's College in the years ahead. We verymuch hope that we shall have the opportunity to meetthe new Dean on the occasion of the Annual Lecture inMay.

Very good news too on the teaching front: the Revd DrKamal Farah has been appointed as Course Director for2012. From his previous spells on the staff of the Collegemany of you will know Father Kamal as a first-rateteacher, with extensive knowledge of the Scriptures and

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the Land which gave them birth and a deep appreciationof the Spiritual Traditions which express the religiouslife of the Middle East. With the College Courses in suchsure hands the Dean can be released for his primary taskof carrying the vision of St George's College throughoutthe Anglican Communion and beyond, and of findingthe resources to make that vision a reality.

Sincere apologies to the Revd David Praill for an error inthe article entitled “Another Miracle of Sinai” in the lastedition of Update. It was in fact he who had the originalvision for and who founded “Wind, Sand and Stars”. MsEmma Loveridge joined David and subsequently tookthe vision forward

With all good wishes.

BishopRobinSmith

REPORT FROMTHE CHAIR

ST. GEORGE’SCOLLEGE, JERUSALEM

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DEAN’S CORNERFrom the new Dean, Dr Graham Smith

It is a great honour to have been appointed Dean of St. George's College. Jerusalem by Bishop SuheilDawani. Bishop Dawani and I first met in June 1992 when we were students in the Doctor of Ministryprogram at Virginia Theological Seminary near Washington D.C. Since then, I have visited the Holy Landfour times, most recently in February 2008 when more than twenty parishioners from St. David's Glenview,Illinuis look the Palestine of Jesus course.

My passion has always been parish ministry. I have been a parish priest for more than 37 years but only inthree parishes. In my first cure, my wife Sherry and I did youth ministry in a large corporate parish just westof Cleveland, Ohio. After three years we were called to a small parish on the east side of' Cleveland, whichwas about to have its doors closed. We were there for 15 years. The community grew and flourished,becoming a place for young families to join. The parish had a unique drama ministry and we built a largeparish hall for fellowship, Sunday school and a place to host diocesan youth conferences.

In 1992 we came to Chicago to a large corporate size parish in a wealthy suburb twenty miles north of thecity. We emphasized worship, preaching and Christian formation for all ages. There was also a strongemphasis on local outreach along with important relationships to Anglicans in Madagascar, Kenya, Chileand Jerusalem. In 2002 we installed a large organ to further enhance a vital music ministry.

I was born in Canada where my father was the organist of St. John's Anglican Cathedral in Winnipeg,Manitoba. We moved to a suburb of New York City where I was raised. I majored in Russian Studies andPolitical Philosophy at Fordham University. My seminary training was at The Episcopal Divinity School inCambridge, Massachusetts. My Doctor of Ministry degree was completed in 1997 with a project dissertationon 'Servant Leadership'. Since that time I have taught clergy on that subject in Madagascar, Kenya and Chile.

My hopes for St. George's College include how best to invite Christians across the world and throughout theAnglican Communion in particular, to come to the Holy Land as pilgrims and have a faith changingexperience. I know that the regional committees can help make this happen. I hope each member of theregional committee will invite me to their parish or to a gathering of diocesan clergy to showcase St.George's. Hopefully, alumni can join me and give a personal witness as well. This institution is a jewel whoseministry needs to be offered to as many pilgrims as possible. I also hope that we can provide scholarships topeople in those parts of the Anglican Communion where the cost would be prohibitive. We need to make astrong connection to the local diocese of Jerusalem and its clergy. We will also offer a wide range of coursesfrom the Old Testament, to studying the churches of St. Paul and St. John to current Christian, Jewish andMuslim relations.

I would very much appreciate all the members of the British Regional Committee being in touch with me toadvise on the website, its ease of access and registration and the ease of making financial contributions. Ineed to know what would make the advertising most appealing to potentialparticipants in your country. Immediate projects include redecorating the rooms,upgrading the computer system, kitchen equipment and a new air conditioningsystem. I expect to make a financial appeal by the end of this month, I lookforward to being with you in the very near future. Please feel free to introduceyourselves to me and to communicate any concerns you might have.

Thank you again for all you are doing to support St. George's. Please keep us inyour prayers and consider when you might bring a group to Jerusalem.

FaithfullyGraham M. Smith

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From the Archives of JMECABBiibbllee LLaannddss NN001199 VVooll XXIIVV -- AApprriill 11996622 The Archbishop's Letter (Campbell) - Jerusalem 26th February, 1962 St George's College The permit to build the college has been received, the plans are complete, the lowest tenderaccepted and the contract signed before I left Jerusalem. The cost is going to be a good deal morethan we had expected, and we shall have to depend greatly on the generosity of our friends ifthe work is to be fully carried out. In the meantime we have invited Bishop Stephen Bayne, theExecutive Officer of the Anglican Communion, to lay the corner stone on April 18th in HolyWeek.IInn tthhee ssaammee eeddiittiioonn:: 74th Annual Report - year ending 31st Dec 1961 Undaunted by the delays in receiving the necessary permits to build, Canon Boyse got coursesarranged and the College started, notably a much appreciated short course for delegates passingthrough Jerusalem on their way to the World Council, entitled "The Centre of Christendom". Thesyllabus of courses for 1962 was widely distributed at New Delhi. Also, Canon Cragg held hisannual Summer School in July, on the theme "The Care of the Churches", with 57 registeredmembers."

Bible Lands July 1962 N01 Vol XV reports on the laying of the corner stone which took place on18th April 1962

BBiibbllee LLaannddss OOccttoobbeerr 11996622 NN0022 VVooll XXVVSt George's College Building In the meantime the College buildings have sprung up rapidly and the whole of the outer shellis now complete. There seems every prospect that the staff will be able to move in by Christmastime, and that we shall be able to accommodate students early in the New Year. Interestingly it goes on to say ... "The building is finely placed, and seems to fit in well with itssurroundings. St George's is likely to be in the very centre of the Arab part of the town, for bignew Government offices and an office for His Majesty the King are shortly to be built on groundwhich we have occupied in the past. Thanks to the governor of Jerusalem and others asatisfactory arrangement has been made about dividing the land, in which previously we had atwo-thirds share"

BBiibbllee LLaannddss JJaannuuaarryy 11996633 NN0033 VVooll XXVV Archbishops Letter - Jerusalem Dec 1962 The new St George's College building is now complete, except for a few last touches, and itshould be in occupation by the time this letter reaches you.

BBiibbllee LLaannddss AApprriill 11996633 NN0044 VVooll XXVVSt George's Dedication "During the last few days of February there was a meeting of representatives of Theologicalcolleges of the Middle East, discussing the matter of textbooks. It is the second meeting of thissort which it has been possible to hold in the College. We took the opportunity of our visitorsbeing present to have a short dedication ceremony, and blessing of the rooms now in use. Thebuilders have now removed their hut, and though there is still some tidying-up of the groundsto be done, the work is to all intents and purposes completed and the College in full swing."

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From the First PrincipalSaint George’s College, Jerusalem

Some Recollections When I was asked by Archbishop Mclnnes and the Jerusalem and the East Mission to set up StGeorge's College, in 1961, the challenge was quite considerable. I was then a member of theSouthwark Diocesan Missions Committee, and had previously been in the Holy Land, but onlyas a visitor, so to live and work in the Arab world was a new experience.

At that date the border between Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan was very close: infact, the Anglican school, just across the road from our Cathedral and the site of the College, hadits western windows bricked up, as they faced directly into Israel. Normally life was peaceful,but there was only one frontier crossing, which could be used only by tourists (on twopassports), United Nations officials, and consular representatives. In all the time I was there, Igot a double-crossing permit only once - to sort out a library that had landed up on the wrongside of the border in the previous hostilities. I still have a rifle bullet which struck my flat in thefinished College a year or so later, when an “incident" occurred on the border; it might havebeen fired from Israel, or could have come from a trigger-happy Jordanian soldier.

When I arrived in April 1961 to start things going, there were of course no college buildings; anda lot of discussion had to take place to decide on the precise plans. Until the building; was upand functioning, residential courses were not an option, and we lived some distance: away nearthe St. John's Ophthalmic Hospital. Just about a year later, in April 1962, the College wasbeginning to take shape, and Bishop Stephen Bayne, the Executive Officer of the AnglicanCommunion, came to lay the foundation stone. The lettering, in English and Arabic, had beenskilfully chiselled by the Reverend John Wilkinson, who succeeded me in 1964.

We arranged to get short courses under way as soon as possible, hoping among other things tomake provision for local ordinands, and for Christian mission workers on the way out to, orreturning from, posts further east. We welcomed a large group of ordinands from England;delegates on the way to a World Council of Churches conference; and provided a venue forCanon Cragg’s Summer School.

An episode of abnormal interest was when I received a cable, via the British Consulate, fromEmperor Haile Selassie, asking whether we would take a number of Ethiopian students. In replyI enquired about academic background, knowledge of English, etc, but heard no more for manymonths. 1 then received another cable, saying that four Ethiopians were on their way, so I dulydrove up to Kalundia airport to meet them - four black-clad figures headed by Fr Nessibu , whowas highly placed in the Imperial service in Addis Ababa and had good English (He wasaccustomed to reading "Country Life", to which the Empress subscribed). He subsequently cameto visit us in England and later went to the USA. The other three smiled sweetly, but had onlylimited capacity for communication and my knowledge of Amharic was nil. What they all madeof us I cannot say; from time to time they would go off to the Ethiopian monastery near the DeadSea for the celebration of some festival - their calendar is distinctive and does not match ours.

Among other particular memories was the visit of the Pope to the Holy Land, where his routehad the unique consequence of a temporary opening of the Jordan / Israeli border for him andhis entourage to pass through. Some Jordanian drivers were delighted to don a Vatican uniformand have the opportunity of crossing the otherwise sealed frontier to revisit some of their ownold country.

Best wishes for the next fifty years. Felix V. A. Boyse

Canon John Wilkinson was second Principal ofSt. George’s College from 1969. Here he sharessome reminiscences from his time in charge.

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A fortnight after I resigned from being Tutorof St George's College I thought over what Ihad done. I determined to go back. My nextjob was with USPG. I was editorial secretary.I had to write a book a year under theexperts on each region, who I must say dealtforgivingly with my mistakes. As acompletely unexpected result of my work Icame to know a great many Anglicanbishops with dioceses outside the BritishIsles. I used my spare time to translateEgeria's Travels, an account by a pilgrimwho had spent three years in Jerusalem,from 381 to 384.

There was a new Archbishop in Jerusalem,George Appleton, whom I knew slightly. Heresponded to a letter of mine by asking tosee me. He suggested that I become head ofSt George's College and I suggested that Ishould have a tour of the bishops Ihappened to know through USPG, in orderfor them to tell me what they would expectfrom the College, and for me to speak tothem about my hopes. The year was 1969. SoI missed the Israeli takeover of Jerusalem.

When I had done my tour of the AnglicanBishops I went back to Jerusalem. A greatdisadvantage was the overwhelmingconsciousness of the other staff of the recentinvasion by Israel. Not having been throughthe war, I decided to treat the Arabs, whomI had known for a long time, and the Jewishnewcomers on a purely humanitariansystem - if they were annoying to me Iwould blame them.

I had been a theological teacher before, butteaching politics was completely new to me.It was important for the students to make uptheir own minds. So they heard independent

speeches by Jews and Arabs. Otherwise thecourses were based on the exploration ofbiblical sites and the experience of differentliturgies. Gradually this system formed into amanageable pattern. We had a long three-month course for clergy, for which we reliedon scholarship money from abroad. I cannotspeak too highly of Sam Van Culin, whoguided me through these managerialchallenges on his occasional visits from NewYork, nor of Ronald Metz, on theArchbishop's staff. I was joined later on byTed Todd as Tutor, who learned modernHebrew, and later succeeded me as the headof the College.

The times were not always peaceful, andsome of the courses had to be cancelled.During these times I wrote JerusalemPilgrims before the Crusades, with theinvaluable help of the library of the EcoleBiblique. It was just down the road, so shouldthere be any emergency I could get back tothe College. The short courses continued, andI specially remember the one from King'sCollege London, and an ecumenical clergycourse under Norman Goodall, that seasonedecumenist.

The time came when I had supervised thirtyshort courses, and felt it was time to dosomething else. Looking back on my time inJerusalem I had concentrated on teaching. Ishould have spent more time on making thebuilding a better place to live in. But this wasthe destiny of the person who succeeded TedTodd as Head, Canon John Peterson.

John Wilkinson

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From the Rev'd Dr Stephen W. Need (Dean 2005-2011)

There is no parallel to being Dean of St.George's College Jerusalem, nothing tocompare to it and nothing remotely like it. Therole is unique, bringing together a kaleidoscopeof responsibilities and opportunities that bogglethe minds of deans of other institutions. For mywife Jill and me, and I hope for St. George'sCollege itself, the six years we spent therewere 'all gain'. Of course, living in Jerusalemprovided plenty of opportunities to get to knowthe Holy Land and to travel in the surroundingregion. I came to know the area inside out andtreasured every day as I awoke ten minutesfrom the Tomb of Christ. The key task,however, was to do the job that I had beenappointed to do: lead the college forward,concentrating on the academic profile ofcourses and providing stability during a periodof change.

Administrative responsibilities, financialconcern and staffing issues were timeconsuming but by and large I managed to keepmy eye on the ball. I had been appointed as a'teaching dean' and always kept a hand in onthat front. I did a fair bit of designing andreshaping of courses, developing this andrefocusing that. The college was lucky enoughto have a good staff team most of the time Iwas there and this made all the difference tokeeping the operation afloat. However, I wasalso Course Director for well over a year duringmy time as dean and this made life very busy.Fortunately I was thoroughly familiar with therole having done the job before in 1999-2001. Ihad also been Lecturer in 1996-97.

As dean, my over-riding concern was alwayswith the smooth running of the college andprimarily of the courses. These, I believe werealways of a high quality. Anyone who has notbeen to a St. George's course is missing anamazing learning opportunity in every way. The'Palestine of Jesus' course has been refilledover decades and certainly remained the keycourse while I was dean. The combination of

academic study and spirituality was exactlywhat I myself valued and the courses alwayskept that balance. The Holy Places were aspowerful as ever as focuses of prayer, and thefascinating history of Jerusalem and the landgenerally was always an exciting part of theexperience: days in Bethlehem at the Churchof the Nativity considering the history of thebuilding and the meaning of Christian faith;mornings in the Old City of Jerusalem at theChurch of the Resurrection focusing on themany layers of the building and of the gospels;visits to the Dome of the Rock and the WailingWall thinking of the other faiths and ourrelations with them. The places in Galilee werealso fundamental: Nazareth, Caesarea Philippi,Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee and then thearchaeological sites at places like CaesareaMaritima, Bet Shean and Jericho. All this, alongwith student reflections in the evenings,Eucharists out in the field, and lectures in theCollege and on the bus, constituted the'essence' of St George's College as I hadknown it from the early 1980s and as I wasconvinced it should always be. This was the'stuff' of the 'life transforming experience' thateveryone spoke about. It was a privilege to bepart of it.

The college's 'foreign courses' were very muchpart of the agenda during my years. Indeed,they also became part of the 'essence' of St.George's. Turkey, Egypt and the Sinai Desert,Jordan, Greece and even Rome featured in ourlists and took the college out into the widerregion. 'St. Paul and the Early Church' inTurkey was offered most years I was there andthis did for St. Paul and the early councils of thechurch what the Holy Land did for Jesus andthe twelve disciples, enabling a dramaticchange of perception, beginning withgeography and permeating our understandingof biblical texts and of faith. The desertcourses, 'Ways in the Wilderness' and 'BibleLands', took us through Old Testament textsand the experience of the desert fathers and

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mothers. All those who took part will havememories of these experiences that will staywith them for life.

By and large, the college continued in goodspirits while I was there. Momentous changesoccurred, however: computers and lap topstook over the landscape both in library andlecture room. 'State of the art' audio-visual'equipment was also fitted in the lecture roommaking musical and PowerPoint presentationspossible.

Unfortunately because of the financial tightsqueeze resulting from the global recession wehad to lose several Palestinian staff within oneyear while I was there. This was a serious blowto morale but we moved on and remaining staffworked harder.

Every morning I passed the corner stone of St.George's College building on my way out of theDeanery. It records the date of its consecrationby Bishop Stephen Bayne in 1962 andreminded me just how important the physicalstructure is. Keeping the building in goodcondition is an expensive business and fundingat the college is always a priority of the dean.The support of the various RegionalCommittees and of private donors enabledwork to go ahead as needed. I had hoped thatthe Library would be built up during the years Iwas there but we had to cut funds when therecession set in. Overall, however, St.George's College remained in tip top physicalcondition with a new water system being fittedjust before I left. Thanks go to all those wholove the college, value what it does and sendfunds to enable work to be done. Anendowment to cover staff salaries and otherexpenses is still badly needed.

On a personal note, my years as dean took achange of direction when I was ordained in2008 and joined the staff of St. George'sCathedral. Happily, this brought college and

cathedral closer together and encouragedgood relations and better communication allaround. The support of all the staff in the Closeduring that time was wonderful. I shall alwayscount it a privilege and a blessing to have beenordained in what had become my homecathedral.

St. George's College Jerusalem is a treasure! Itcontinues to provide unparalleled 'life transforming' opportunities to pilgrims andstudents visiting the Holy Land. Its courses arefirst-rate and I hope that the traditionsestablished over many years will continueunder the new dean. I wish St. George'sCollege building 'many happy returns' for its50th birthday and hope that everything goesfrom strength to strength in the future. Godbless all who sail in her!

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Recent work on Paul's theology (the 'new perspective onPaul') has thrown the spotlight on the close relationbetween his theological statements concerning theLaw/Judaism and his practice of mission among non-Jews. Paul did not propound an abstract or generalisedantithesis between human 'works' and divine grace, but inhis concern to establish multicultural communities in Christhe insisted that non-Jews did not need to adopt the Jewishmode of life (the 'works of the [Mosaic] Law') in order tobelong to Christ. Paul's theology is focused, in the firstplace, on the social formation of communities that crossethnic (and social and gender) boundaries. The spiritualreconstitution of individual believers falls within this widerhorizon of the novel configuration of social groups - whichitself is a part of God's total reconfiguration of the cosmosthrough the death and resurrection of Jesus. But Paul's theology is not simply the reflex of his socialpolicy. At its root lies the conviction that God has acted inChrist in 'grace' (a theological translation of charis,meaning 'favour' or 'gift'). But this is a peculiar form of giftthat is given not (as one would expect) to the worthy orfitting, but without regard to human worth, be that ethnic,social or moral. This incongruous gift in Christ is what hasrevolutionised Paul's own life. In Galatians 1.13-16 hegives a thumbnail sketch of his previous system of value:his former life 'in Judaism' involved outstanding zeal in hiscommitment to his 'ancestral traditions'. In his ethnicity, hissuperior cultural tradition, and his 'righteousness' in thoseterms (cf Philippians 3.3-6), Paul possessed enormouscultural 'capital'. And it was out of that zeal that hepersecuted the church. However, when he encountered Christ, he knew himself tobe overwhelmed by a 'grace' that had called him frombefore he was born (Gal 1.15-16), without regard to hisexcellence in Judaism and without regard to his error inpersecuting the church. The result of this gift is not just a sense of personalforgiveness. It revolutionised Paul's stance towards his

own cultural tradition because he realised that the gift inChrist neither expressed nor enhanced the worth of thattradition. In fact, it rendered his cultural 'capital' worthlessin comparison with Christ, the sole source of worth(Philippians 3.3-11). This does not make Paul's 'Judaism'wrong, or misguided, or merely' external'. Paul continuesto be a Jew (of course) and often behaves in line with hiscultural traditions, but these are now subservient to a newlocus of authority, a superior norm defined by 'the truth ofthe gospel' in the saving event of Christ. Subverted by thisincongruous grace, Paul can cross cultural boundaries inhis mission to non-Jews, and does not require them to'judaise' (Galatians 2.11-14), because the gift of God inChrist was neither contained nor containable within anycultural/national tradition. One could live as a Jew in Christ,but also not as a Jew: 'neither circumcision noruncircumcision counts for anything, but a new creation'(Galatians 6.15). Any cultural tradition might be a usefulvehicle for the expression of faith in Christ, but none couldbe the frame within which that faith was confined, and allwere liable to the sort of cultural dissidence which Paulexercised in sitting loose to the final authority of the Law. This reading of Paul brings to mind an unfortunateexperience I once had on an otherwise marvellous St.George's study tour in Cyprus. We were at the Anglicancathedral in Nicosia on Remembrance Day. Rememberingthe fallen in war was of course appropriate, but the shockcame when we, an international group of visitors (I wassitting next to a German Christian), were invited to takecommunion from an altar draped with the Union Jack. TheLord's Table had become a British table and I was unableto participate; the communion had become ~ blasphemy.That experience has made me question whether flags, assymbols of national identity, have any place in churches:their presence will always give the impression thatbelonging to Christ is contained within, or equivalent to,loyalty to one's nation. But national and cultural loyaltiesmust always be subservient to our superior loyalty toChrist, out of commitment to 'the truth of the gospel'(Galatians 2.14). However much Paul respected the 'powers that be'(Romans 13.1-7), he could never allow a humanly-constructed cultural identity to equal the authority of thegospel or meld with his identity in Christ. Even as a Jew,his ultimate allegiance was not to the 'Law' or to 'Judaism',but to Christ (1 Cor 9.19-21). Because the gift of God inChrist reaches us without regard to our cultural (and other)marks of identity, these are taken up into, but subordinatedto, an allegiance to Christ that retains the capacity tochallenge, critique and even flout any aspect of our culturaland national traditions. The presence of the flag confusesthat loyalty: it suggests that to be Christian is also to beunreservedly British, or American or whatever. Dependingon how their nation's actions conform to the gospel ofChrist, Christians can be either the most patriotic of citizensor the most unpatriotic. Where patriotism traps andconstrains Christian commitment, we need to hear againPaul's stunning critique of his 'judaising' converts: 'forfreedom Christ has set you free: stand therefore, and donot submit again to the yoke of slavery' (Galatians 5.1).

Does the Flagbelong in theChurch? Paul,Grace andNational IdentityBy Professor John Barclay,University of Durham

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happened were so powerful, especially on the Mount of Olivesand beside the Sea of Galilee that their memory will always bewith us, especially when we hear them read again. Oursermons have been full of these moments and hopefully theyhave not been boring holiday reminiscences, but have, asintended, allowed the events to come alive for ourcongregations as well. Visits to Qumran and Masada alsomade a tremendous impact on us.

Meeting and talking to Israelis and Palestinians was importantfor us. The visit to Nablus and hearing how priests and imamswork closely together was amazing and seeing the hugerefugee camp opposite Bethel made one so grateful for all thatwe have and often take for granted. Our guide encouraged ustowards shops run and supplied by Palestinians, so we felt thatpossibly we were doing just a little to help their economy.However, it was the visit to Bethlehem that horrified us themost. Simply going through the security wall was shocking andhowever much one reads about it, this does little to dampen theshock of actually experiencing it oneself. We found seeingteenage soldiers carrying high powered guns in Jerusalemdisturbing; having them march through ones coach on theborder holding guns was far worse.

So why would we encourage people to think about followingone of St George's courses?

• If you want to have a real spiritual insight into theHoly Land, the structure of the course we followed,enables this to happen • The leaders and participants are there to provokeand support. The courses themselves areacademically challenging without being too highpowered • Worship at the cathedral allows you to worship withChristians locally • The college is close to the Damascus Gate so it iseasy to visit the Old City independently.

For us it was a wonderful experience about which we talk a lot.Last Easter back home had a new dimension as we could'follow' Jesus in Holy Week and at Eastertide, rememberingplaces we had seen and readings that we had heard. When werenewed our Baptismal vows in our home parish, our thoughtswent back to renewing them on the shores of the Sea ofGalilee at St Peter Primacy. This Christmas we will look at ourcrib figures with our grandsons and point out the carveddonkey specially bought from one of the woodcarvers ofBethlehem.

Some talk about the commercialism of the Holy Land. Perhapsthey should remember that even in Jesus' time the traderswere there and it is up to you how much one allows the crowdsto intrude on ones personal pilgrimage. We will never forget thecrescent moon that was shining brightly as we made our waydown to the Via Dolorosa at 6am to start our solemn Way of theCross before the crowds were about. Thank you St George'sfor making all this possible and one day we hope we will beback to experience even more in the Palestine of Jesus.

Nicholas & Wendy Plant, Garforth, Leeds

It may seem strange, but 40 years after we had graduated inTheology and even though Nick was ordained and I work (ed)as a RE teacher and a Reader, we had never visited Israel.This was a deliberate decision - quite simply we felt sostrongly about the treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeligovernment and the Settlers that we refused to do anythingthat might put more money into the Israeli economy. Weregularly attend lectures at the Mirfield Centre and onelunchtime on a dank and misty November day, we listened toStephen Need talking about the work of St George's College.He spoke about the courses and we realised here would be anopportunity not only to visit the West Bank, but also to talk toboth Israelis and Palestinians as part of the Palestine of Jesuscourse. Added to that, St George's is in East Jerusalem. Sothe way was open to us and we could fulfil a lifetime's dream- to visit the places we had read about and studied for so manyyears and which had been central to our worship.

We arrived in Jerusalem in February 2011 deliberatelychoosing to arrive a few days early so we could explore andbecome familiar with the area before the course started. Onthat journey on the sharoot into the city we saw clearly thedifference between the two parts of Jerusalem. We firstdropped off some Orthodox Jews, just as the men wereemerging from the synagogues. It was an eye opener to seebuses crammed with black clothed men and not a womanabout. Somewhat different from our experiences of the Jewishcommunities in the UK! We then had great difficulty inpersuading the Jewish driver actually to take us to the gate ofthe college. However, we were given a great welcome whenwe finally arrived and were glad to see a lift in the college (Nickis registered disabled) to take us up to our room!

We had been slightly concerned about who else was on thecourse - would there be too many of a similar way of thinking?As people gradually arrived we realised that there was a widespread of people from different countries, backgrounds andexperiences, all deepening our understanding as the courseprogressed. USA, Britain, Canada, New Zealand,Mozambique, Australia were all represented. That alsoenabled friendships to be made, that lasted long after thecourse ended.

The college is close to the Old City (Damascus Gate) whichwas ideal as we could easily grab the opportunity to exploreindependently. Thus we were able to return to Holy Sepulchreby ourselves and to take part in worship with another group ofpilgrims, to visit the Armenian Cathedral and to experienceVespers and on numerous occasions sit drinking coffee andwatching the world go by (and receiving a blessing from theMuslim owner of the coffee shop!). We walked the city wallsand were able to visit again places we had gone to withAndrew.

But what of the course? During our 2 weeks we saw manyother tours seeing as much of Jerusalem as they could in aday. This made us so glad that the course had such anemphasis on spirituality and time for reflection. This meant thatone did not just visit a place, but there was also time to absorbit. The Bible readings in the place where they probably

Students’ ViewsWhy Go To St. George’s?

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 11

ThePalestine of

JesusI love mosaics; and my over-whelming impressions of the HolyLands are mosaics.

As we travelled in Jerusalem, in Galilee and through the land, wesaw so many. In the Church of the Multiplication, the traditionalmosaics illustrate not only loaves and fishes, but also the ancientflora and fauna of the area. The modern mosaics in the Church ofthe Resurrection depict the scenes of the crucifixion, the anointingof Jesus' body, and his tomb. The many, varied mosaics at theBasilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth portray traditionsassociated with Mary from countries around the world.

An assortment of different images, in different styles - yet all arecreated from tiny pieces of coloured stone or glass. Many modernmosaics are made without real artistic skill. They are made fromrandomly smashed tiles, or china, stuck down in irregular patterns.Traditional Holy Land mosaics are harmonious in colour andshape, and are beautifully crafted.

Why does this remind me so much of the peoples of this place,and my prayers for them?

During my two and half weeks in Jerusalem, including the is-daycourse, 'The Palestine of Jesus', I was drawn into a deeperappreciation of the history, the culture and the present-daysituation of this land. We were presented with opportunities tomeet people who gave us widely differing perspectives of theissues that have confronted, and still confront, the whole area.

We met a Samaritan priest, who spoke of the struggles his peoplehave had for millennia. This small group, mostly resident on MountGerazim, almost disappeared altogether in the 20th century.However, they 'brought in' many young women, and theirnumbers are now growing, despite restrictions placed on them bytheir neighbours. Just down the hill, in Nablus, we met a Christianpriest, who spoke of his love for his congregation and also for hisneighbours. He is working courageously to promote dialogue andpeace.

We met an inspiring woman in the Syriac church in Jerusalem. Shespoke of the connection with Jesus, through the use of Aramaic,and also told us of the many miracles associated with prayer inthis place. We also heard from her of the disagreements betweenthe various denominations in Jerusalem, and how these dailyimpact the people.

A senior negotiator of the PLO spoke to us of the huge difficultiesof his people, living in occupied lands and having little say overmany aspects of their lives. He spoke of the day-to-dayconstrictions, and also of the peoples' desire for peace. Equallypassionate was Jewish lecturer who spoke of the damaginghundreds of years of 'antisemitism' on his people and the massive

effect of the Shoah, leading many Jews to believe the wholeworld always has been, and always will be, against them. He wasalso able to illustrate the wide range of views in current Israelipolitics, showing that there is willingness to work for a settlement.

So was this course more about the 21st century than the 1stcentury? No. The places we visited emphasised the vastdifferences between the peoples. Research time in the muchfought-over old city of Jerusalem, with its four 'quarters' ,illustrated for us just how far apart spiritually, but how close,physically, the peoples are. Their fears seem not very differentfrom 2,000 years ago - parking (cars, not beasts), over-crowding,justice, the economy - and desire for lasting peace is a commonhope for all. Just their views on what this means, and how it canbe achieved, differ widely.

All we experienced helped me reflect on the situation inJerusalem at the time of Christ. As we visited the ruins beneaththe southern end of Temple Mount, we saw the remains of thebooths of the money changers. We heard about the demands oftemple worship. On the mount itself, we experienced both heat,and torrential rain. As I now read scripture, my mental pictureshave changed, and my understanding has deepened.

Perhaps one of the best aspects of the course, for me, was thetime and space built in not just for reflection, but for pursuing ourown interests. I was fortunate to spend three days in Jerusalembefore the course started, which enabled me to have time to bestill in some of my favourite locations around the old city. I hadvisited the Holy Land on several previous occasions, but had neverhad time 'just' to wander. I found the Garden Tomb a wonderfullyintimate place in which to rest and meditate. I was also blessed bybeing able to spend a day at Yad Vashem, the place of HolocaustMartyrs and Heroes Remembrance, doing some research into theconcentration camp which my father, a doctor in the R.A.M.C.,liberated.

As the course continued, I got to know other course membersand, particularly, my 'family' (the small groups into which we weredivided). Together, we were able to worship, share our discoveries,and reflect on our experiences, struggles and challenges. And Icame to realise that the Biblical setting for Jesus was not theharmonious mosaic we sometimes imagine. The pieces were allthere, in a variety of colours, but the design was impaired, and thesurface uneven.

Today, there are even more shattered pieces and garish coloursbeing forcibly glued down together. The pieces are lying unhappilynext to each other and the design is far from clear. But one day,as we continue to dwell within the words of Psalm 122 ('Pray forpeace of Jerusalem'), our prayers will be answered.

Perhaps the meaningful design is already beginning to form, butwe are too close to see it. Only when the design is viewed froma distance does it make sense. One day, the pieces of this mosaicwill lie in perfect harmony, and there will be peace. We are calledto trust God.

My very sincere thanks go to The St George's College JerusalemTrust, for the bursary they gave me, making this time for study,retreat and refreshment possible. Without this, I would not havebeen able to go.

The Reverend Fiona Solman

The Jerusalem cross was first used as a coat of armsfor the Latin Kingdom in Jerusalem. During theCrusades, it was referred to as the "Crusaders Cross."The four small crosses are symbolic of the fourGospels proclaimed to the four corners of the earth,beginning in Jerusalem; the large cross symbolizesthe person of Christ. I saw it everywhere during myfortnight in Israel.

It was a time in which I was able tofollow the life of Christ by visiting theplaces where he lived and preached anddied - and rose again.

I felt very privileged to be a student at St George's College,next to the Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem - 10 minuteswalk from the City Walls. It felt at all times a very safeenvironment and the staff gave 110%effort to enable us to get the most fromour time with them. The accommodationwas comfortable and there was a relaxed'can do' atmosphere which was mostwelcome.

First came two days of learninghow to find our way round thecity - and to understand it. Thenoff to Bethlehem, for Epiphany -except that for the Coptic, Syrian andOrthodox Christians it was Christmas. TheChurch of the Nativity was filled with theirliturgy: lights, sounds and - smells. Amazing- so many different cultures blending together in a unique way.

At the College we had lectures from a Jewish scholar and aChristian priest who is a Palestinian. The tensions are keenly felt- yet there is always hope. Sometimes it's all too easy for us inBritain to condemn the conduct of 'The Israelis' or 'ThePalestinians'. But I learnt that you can't lump people together inthat way. In any nation there are always extremists - those whowill resort to violence to achieve their ends. Yet the vast majorityyearn for peace, condemn the violence of the minority and feeluncomfortable to be on the receiving end of our disapproval. Inmy praying I shall always remember those who live underoppression as well as praying that those who resort to oppressionmay feel, instead, God's love and a new openness.

Then on to Galilee - to Nazareth and our guest house on theshores of beautiful Lake Galilee - for 'Sabbath rest' and 'Calm ofhills above'. It seemed a very long way from the tensions ofJerusalem.

Capernaum, Mount Tabor (scene of the transfiguration), Jericho- at each place, there was time for reflection and worship. Wewere not just reading about the Holy Land, we were in it.

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Driving through the checkpoints was easy for us ... but it cantake the locals 2 hours to get through them and everywhere thereis THE WALL. It seems oppressive, aggressive. I wondered ifthe Palestinians ever get used to it. Most of all, I wondered if itwill ever come down.

Then it was back to Jerusalem where we explored theexcavations round the temple .. Experiencing the emotion andintensity of the Wailing Wall .. The beauty of the Dome of the

Rock and the view out to the Mount ofOlives. Next day we actually went there,the scene of Christ's agony in theGarden. We tried to put ourselves in hisplace. He must have felt so alone.

The Church of St Peter in Galicantu wasthe scene of Peter's denial and Christ's imprisonment.Peter was weak - yet Christ forgave him. This filled mewith hope - Peter was weak, he denied Christ - yet he was

mightily used to build up God's Kingdom.I am weak, and I am sinful - so maybe,saved by Christ's death and resurrectionand equipped by the Spirit, I too can

serve.

At dawn we followed thestations of the cross through thecity streets. How alone Christmust have felt .... Did passers-byjeer? .. Or, worse, did they

simply ignore? Then Emmaus ..... Wewalked expectantly and felt the presence ofthe risen Christ. I so valued this whole

experience and wondered how I could return to 'normality'. Theninto my head popped the words of a hymn “Not forever by greenpastures do we ask our way to be. But the steep and ruggedpathway may we tread rejoicingly." Then I knew I could return,refreshed and renewed.

How can I sum up the impact of my stay in Israel?Seeing the places where Christ ministered, where he was born,lived, died and rose again, set the Bible in context for me. I couldsee how everything fitted together. I shall read the Bible in acompletely new way, seeing the landscape in my mind. Myprayers now will be different, more informed and lessjudgemental.

For me they were weeks of revival, reawakening and of love,God's love given anew in his Son.

I am immensely grateful for the very generous support whichmade this whole experience possible for me and I do hope andpray that St George's College will always be there, offering thisunique insight into the Palestine of Jesus.

Thank you. Jenny Kimber Lampeter

The Way of

the Crossa Pilgrimage in Israel

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 13

JERUSALEM - THE GOLDENThere are times in our lives when we have a dream that seems so improbable and impossiblethat we store it away in some deep recess of our minds. In those off- guard moments or in ournight dreams it may return and we remember, but it is soon sent back to the box of 'impossibledreams'. The concept of visiting Jerusalem was one of my impossible dreams but God likes to give us ourdesires and one day the impossible became possible. My friend Monica and I booked our courseand flights. We received our reading list and I read three of the recommended books. I learnedso much that I did not know!! One of the books focused on the difference between a touristexperience of the Holy Land and a Pilgrimage. This alone was to prove to be invaluable andhelped me to enjoy my visit. The day of departure arrived and we set off full of excitement. Theflight was uneventful and we arrived on time. Then we had our first experience of a 'sherut' andarrived at St George's College late evening. We were greeted by Heather who settled us into ourroom and she explained where everything was and what we were to expect. Heather was warmand welcoming. The following day we had free as the course officially started that evening. After breakfastarmed with a small map of the city, we walked to the old city. Monica had visited the Holy Landon two previous occasions but as I walked towards the Damascus Gate and saw the stalls andall the people milling around then add on the noise, I just had to stop and not only take a photo(one of many, many, many .... ) but take in the scene, smell the air and pinch myself. I, yes, me,I was here in Jerusalem. In my mind's eye I could easily translate the scene to the times of Jesus.This was awesome. I was to repeat this many times over the next few days. We walked for hours all round the city and by the end I was suffering from sensory overloadand sore feet! I made a point of writing up a travel diary so that I would not miss anything andensure that the details were remembered later. After a rest and meal where we met some of ourfellow course participants we all met in the conference room and the bit I was dreading was tostart, the introductions. However, I had nothing to fear as it was done in a very gentle andsensitive way. Our group represented a variety of nations: England, America, New Zealand,Australia and Canada. I was very impressed with the content and logistics of the course andthat night settled down to sleep with eager anticipation of the days ahead. We visited many sites in and around Jerusalem. In fact we came to know the Old City quite well.The enduring memory for me was the hustle and bustle, the crowds, the noise, but above all thesmells. There were, of course the big moments: seeing the Dome of the Rock for the first time,seeing Jerusalem at our feet from the tower of the Lutheran Church, seeing the Mount Olives,seeing Jerusalem from the Mount Olives. We were accompanied on every visit and given historic, architectural, archaeological andpolitical information at every opportunity. Though the focus was the Palestine of Jesus, we did,

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 14

nonetheless, also have Old Testament historical sites included. One particularly memorableexperience was the day we were given the task of going to a particular area of the old city to asklocal people what it was like to live there and gain some insight into their personal perspectiveof daily life in the Old City of Jerusalem in 2011. We also had a political dimension included withboth the Palestinian and the Israeli perspectives presented to us. A few days in Galilee were part of the programme. This for me personally was one of thehighlights. The landscape is still similar to ancient times and it was easy to imagine Jesuswalking around the shore of the Sea of Galilee and the mountains. The two most personally moving moments were: renewing my baptismal vows knee deep in theSea of Galilee and out on the boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee with boat engine silencedand experiencing the total stillness and silence. It was a wonderful opportunity for reflectionand prayer. Formal times of worship were sensitively built into the programme and membersof the group were encouraged to participate. Of great benefit were the times of quiet personalreflection at most sites and these were very perceptively guided. There are so many fondmemories, too many to mention individually but, I hope I have given you a flavour of ourexperiences. All staff at St George's were wonderful. They were so knowledgeable but so eager, enthusiasticand generous in sharing their knowledge with us. They were all very caring in their pastoralrole towards us also. As a group we soon got to know each other and appreciate each and everyone; laughing together and also sharing the hard times with each other. Now that I have been back for some months, time has allowed me to process the experienceslived. It has been an unforgettable experience. I have gained so much from this journey. I haveacquired knowledge, understanding and insight into not only the times of Jesus in this land butalso the current political perspective. My spiritual growth has been phenomenal and I now readthe Scriptures with images from the land in which they are set. This is so beneficial in deepeningmy understanding and making the Scriptures much more meaningful. As a consequence of this experience I have continued to read and gain further knowledge andunderstanding thus growing spiritually. I was asked to lead a Bible Study group in our localChurch and have loved this challenge. I hope to have more opportunities to use the knowledgeand insights gained. I have had the chance to pass on information about St George's to two otherinterested potential candidates and pray that they follow their dream. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff at St George's College Jerusalem for alltheir kindness and hard work on our behalf. We also thank the provision of the scholarship thathelped make this dream come true. I would also like to thank my friend Monica for being theconduit for the Lord's provision. I pray that these words may encourage others to contact StGeorge's and persuade them to visit Jerusalem with the support of this wonderful team. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Amen. Celia Coulson Bocking, Essex

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 15

Conders ColumnTHE KINGJAMES BIBLEIt was good to see how much was made of the 400thAnniversary of the Authorised Version last year. Eventswere organised up and down the country, broadcastsrelayed, articles and books published in abundance.Amongst the more illuminating' of the latter was "Begat.-The King James Bible and the English Language" byDavid Crystal, Hon. Professorial Fellow of EnglishLanguage & Linguistics at Bangor University.

He examines the quotations, idioms and everydaysayings that have passed into common parlance over thecenturies and become part and parcel of our commonspeech - and the sometimes bizarre way they have beenand are used in the media today. Phrases such as "a rodof iron", "new wine in old bottles", "the apple of an eye","am I my brothers keeper?", "a fly in the ointment" - howoften do people know the origin of such expressions?Crystal gives many amusing illustrations of adaptations ofBiblical phrases gleaned from his extensive researches.E.g. the tennis reporterʼs headline about “Wimbledonseeds falling by the wayside”; "Holier than thou" as thelogo used by a body piercing and tattooing studio; a pubsign, “The Goat of Many Colours”; a guidebook to the cityof Zagreb described as "A Croat of many colours"; thecartoon about the ape in the zoo reading Darwin's Originof the Species with the caption "Am I my keeper'sbrother?".

This is also a work of serious scholarship, Crystal makesthe point that while there are 257 citations from the Biblein popular usage, only 18 are unique to the AuthorisedVersion. The majority come from earlier translations,principally Tyndale's, who may justly be claimed to havehad a greater influence over the English language thanany other individual, including Shakespeare (who may becredited with about a hundred quotes). Nothingremarkable about this, for as the original preface makesclear the purpose was to produce an exact translationusing ʻthe labours of' many worthy men who went beforeus" to maintain and propagate the truth of Christ far andnear.

Those who criticise the proliferation of moderntranslations might perhaps reflect that in its day the KingJames Bible was an attempt to present Scripture inlanguage "understanded of the people". The King JamesBible was, on the whole, conservative, introducing fortythree new words into the English language as comparedwith shakespeareʼs over two thousand. Winston Churchillcalled the King James Bible the ultimate masterpiece ofthe English Language. Professor Chrystal's book is awelcome and enjoyable addition to the multitude ofvolumes about it.

DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

Was the Last Supper a Passover meal? WasJesus crucified on Nisan 14 or Nisan 15? 3rdor 4th of April? Was it in: AD 33 or 36? oranother year? Some people find it hard tosummon enthusiasm for such questions whichseem to them peripheral to the main point -the meaning of Christ's death. What differencedoes it make when the events took place?

People like Anthony Grayling and RichardDawkins, not to mention a number of Biblicalscholars, are sceptical about the value of theBible as a historical record. They point todiscrepancies and cast doubt upon thereliability of the texts in describing actualevents. If some things are inaccurate, how canwe trust the rest? How can we know whatreally happened?

A few years ago Sir Colin Humphreys FRS,who is Professor of Material Science andDirector of Research in the University ofCambridge, wrote "The Miracles of Exodus",and gave a memorable lecture at our AnnualGathering on the subject. More recently hehas turned his attention to the apparentinconsistencies in the gospel accounts ofJesus's final week which have puzzled Biblescholars for centuries.

In his latest book “The Mystery of the LastSupper" published by the CambridgeUniversity Press he presents a detailedexamination of these problems, which is bothlucid and compelling. He investigates theevidence scientifically and calling uponastronomy and other disciplines produces asolution to the variousdifficulties…. And allthis in a clear andreadable manner whichwill appeal as much tothe non expert as to theprofessional.

promising to Arab and Jew mutually contradictoryoutcomes such as awarding Damascus to both the Arabsand the French. British policies disappointed the Arabsand failed to protect the Jews. The agreement was alsoresponsible for adding to the antagonism betweenBritain and France even during World War II when thetwo nations were supposedly allies and whichultimately led to De Gaulle vetoing Britain's applicationto join the Common Market.

The story is brought up to 1949 and is vividly told byJames Barr. An imposing gallery of politicians,diplomats, spies and soldiers pass before our gaze -Lawrence of Arabia, Winston Churchill, Lloyd George,Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin; and not least De Gaullehimself. James Barr has based his book on an immenseamount of original research into newly declassifiedpapers from the French and British archives and amultiplicity of primary and secondary sources. Hisnarrative is clear and easy to follow and throws muchlight on the context, helping readers to a betterunderstanding of how things have come to be as theyare. He particularly sheds light on the at times murkyinvolvement of the United States in the promotion ofZionism.

QUICK LOOKS AT OTHER BOOKS

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 16

A LINE IN THE SAND -BRITAIN, FRANCE ANDTHE STRUGGLE THATSHAPED THE MIDDLEEAST. JAMES BARR.SIMON and SCHUSTER.

In one of the most scenicparts of that mostscenically favouredcounty of North Yorkshirestands Sledmere House,set in the midst of race-horse training country.One of its claims to fame is

that it was the, ancestral home of Sir Mark Sykes, foreverassociated with the Sykes-Picot agreement, that ill-starred deal which became one of the causes of thecontinuing disputes between Arab and Jew which sobedevil the current political scene. The agreement drewa line in the sand from the Mediterranean to the Persianfrontier from Acre to Kirkuk. Territory to the north of theline would go to France; land to the south to Britain.France got Lebanon and Syria; under British mandatewere Palestine, Transjordan and Iraq. It may be claimedthat the root of the present troubles in the Middle Eaststem largely from the duplicity of the British in

I was particularly interested in his description of theMandelbaum House and so-called gate (which was inreality a dress shop). It was the entrance from Jordanianinto Israeli occupied Jerusalem through which I had topass in September 1957 on my way to study at theSwedish Theological Institute in the Street of theProphets. The author's home was just six hundred yardsfrom St. George's Cathedral and he paints a fascinatingportrait of what life was like growing up at that time.

There are numerous cross references to Barr's book (e.gconcerning George Antonius’s “The Arab Awakening”,the tit-for-tat killings and retaliatory raids on both sides).Bird is very open about President Eisenhower's MiddleEastern policy: to keep Arab oil in American hands. Plusça change----! This is a very original book which is bothpersonal and concerned with political events. Itencompasses figures such as King Hussein, Osama binLaden's older brother Salem, Saudi Kings Faisal andKhalid, and President Nasser of Egypt. It is a valuablesupplement to the literature on the modern Middle East.

CROSSINGMANDELBAUM GATE -COMING OF AGEBETWEEN THE ARABSAND ISRAELIS 1956-78. KAI BIRD.SIMON ANDSCHUSTER.

This book covers some ofthe same ground but froma different perspective.Kai Bird was born in 1952,son of an AmericanForeign Service Officerand spent his childhood in

Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia and Egypt and his youth inLebanon so this is a personal memoir of three major warsand three turbulent decades in the Middle East.

Many St. George's College students will be familiar withthe American Colony Hotel as a return to civilisationafter a few nights spent on courses sleeping under thestars in the Negev and Sinai Desert. (Tony Blair lost notime in reserving the whole upper floor for his privateapartments when in Jerusalem. Bird and his family's staythere was limited to under two months)

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 17

BEYOND THE BORDERSo many of the news ltems coming out of Israel/Palestine are depressing that it is refreshing to reportsome good news for a change. Writing in the “Wisden Cricketer” recently, Nick Ames tells how cricket isbringing together children from both communities. He describes a game at Yeruhan in the Hebronhills, south west of the Dead Sea, involving Palestinian, Israeli and Bedouin children. It is six-a-sideand lasts twenty minutes and is played under floodlights on five-a-side football pitches. No pads orgloves are required and the ball is a tennis ball covered in tape that makes It bounce, swing and spinlike a cricket ball but with little risk to people and property.The event is part of Cricket for Peace, a project of the Peres Centre whose Director of Sport is an exCaptain in the Israeli Defence Force called Tami Hay. She confesses that when she was a soldier shewas frightened of Palestinians but her present job has completely changed her attitude towards them.One of the players is twelve year old Fadi Mahmud from Hebron. It is his first time on the cricket field."I shall be playing this again if I can", he said. "I want to play with this lot, (his Israeli team mates)more". His reaction is typical. Early suspicions vanish as the game proceeds. The whole atmosphereis friendly, with no armed security officers or policemen to be seen.For the first time in their lives these youngsters have played sport with those whom many members oftheir families have for years regarded as enemies.How wonderful it will be when the only conflicts between these two communities are those which takeplace in sporting arenas.

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 18

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 19

2012 COURSE SCHEDULEPrices include ALL meals, accommodation, and fees.

Course members are expected to be in residence at the College by 18:00(6:00pm) the night before the course begins and until breakfast the day

following the course.

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Thursday, January 12 – Wednesday, January 25

The Bible and its Setting 14 days $ 3050Tuesday, January 31 – Monday, February 13

Pilgrimage & Spirituality 14 days $ 2680Tuesday, February 21 – Monday, March 5

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Wednesday, March 14 – Tuesday, March 27

Risen With Christ 8 days $ 2450Wednesday, April 11 – Wednesday, April 18

St. Paul and the Early Church 14 days $ 5480Tuesday, May 1 – Monday, May 14

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Wednesday, May 23 – Tuesday, June 5

Palestine of Jesus - Liturgical Focus 14 days $ 2905Thursday, June 14 – Wednesday, June 27

Youth Course 8 days $ 1450Thursday, July 5 – Thursday, July 12

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Friday, July 20 – Thursday, August 2

Social Landscape of the Bible 14 days $ 3050Friday, August 10 – Thursday, August 23

Ways in the Wilderness 14 days $ 4950Tuesday, September 4 – Monday, September 17

Children of Abraham 12 days $ 2200Tuesday, September 25 – Saturday, October 6

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Wednesday, October 17 – Tuesday, October 30

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Thursday, November 8 – Wednesday, November 21

Palestine of Jesus 14 days $ 2905Wednesday, December 5 – Tuesday, December 18

ADDRESS FOR ALL COLLEGE CORRESPONDENCEThe Registrar, St. George’s College, PO Box 1248, Jerusalem 91000, Israel

Tel: 972 – 2 – 626 – 4705 Fax: 972 – 2 – 626 – 4703 Email: registrar@stgeorges.orgcollege website: sgcjerusalem.org

JANUARY 2012 ST. GEORGE’S UPDATE - Page 20

Any contributions of material for next year’s edition of the Update will be welcomed by the Editor, Paul Conder whose address is below