In April 2004 Palestinian and pastors from the Netherlands met during a  4- day seminar.  The initiative for the seminar came from Tabitha Ministries, and the seminar was organised under the supervision, and at the location, of the Bethlehem Bible College (BBC).

An important aim of the seminar was to establish new contacts between Palestinian Christians and (European) Christians from the Netherlands, and to deepen existing contacts. With this in mind the program was put together. One of the main themes was ‘the theology of the land’. The driving force behind the political conflict is a theological conflict. The land of Palestine is claimed by three world religions. Moreover, the Christian world is greatly divided about this subject. The Palestinian Christians sometimes are confronted with opinions that state that they have to give up the land, because otherwise they will be a stumbling block for the second coming of Christ.

A second theme was the obligations we have as Christians towards the world around us, in this case ‘the obligation of Palestinian Christians and Dutch Christians towards each other, and towards Palestinian Muslims and Israeli Jews’. In order to get a better understanding for each others views also topics were placed in the program that gave insight in the (hermeneutical) background of the participants.  Subjects as ‘Overview of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict’, ‘Dutch protestant Churches and the focus on Israel’ and ‘several aspects of Jewish Spirituality in the Holocaust’ fall within this category. 

In advance papers were developed on subjects related to the main themes. These papers were presented during the seminar. A leading principle in the structure of the program was to have a Palestinian and a Dutch speaker on the main themes.

As location the Bethlehem Bible College was chosen. The Bethlehem Bible College has excellent facilities. A hospitable guest house, a large very well equipped conference room.

Moreover during the conference helpful technical and secretarial support, with a warm and personal touch.

Also, walking through Bethlehem, or being driven around the area, and talking to the people about their situation gives a feeling for the present circumstances the people are living in, and will help the participants from the Netherlands once returned to create awareness for the situation of the Palestinian Christians.

The seminar was well attended. The staff of the BBC  and the seven Dutch participants were present all the time, many participants one or more days. The general attendance, including pastors from the West Bank and Galilee, and students from a bible school in Jerusalem was between 20 and 30 people each day. The different views presented provoked sometimes heated discussions. The conference ended however in a gentle and hopeful spirit, and plans were made to build upon the experiences of this conference and to intensify the contacts and prepare for a new conference after Easter 2006.