Introducing the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice

The Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice promotes interdisciplinary research and the study of peace and justice in the context of the Palestinian experience.

Based on Christian and biblical principles, and informed by the fatherhood of God and God’s love for all people, our goal is to assist local and international peacemakers to be a part of preventing, mitigating, and transforming conflict and establishing sustainable peace and justice in Palestine, Israel, and throughout the world.

At the heart of the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice is the Certificate Program in Peacemaking and Justice in the Palestinian Context. The Certificate Program serves undergraduate, graduate, and other learners and may be taken for academic credit or audit. The courses are taught in English and may also be taken separately without completing the Certificate Program.

One Peacemaker Says of the Program . . .

Palestine is the geographic and political anvil upon which Judaism, Christianity, and Islam hammered out much of their theologies, often in the face of occupying empire. Today, in the occupied West Bank, Bethlehem Bible College is shaping a new generation of national and international leaders to be peacemakers in the model of Jesus Christ. The program of the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice gives a rigorous introduction to nonviolent approaches, grounded in Scripture and in pursuit of justice. With commitment to the mission of the church and respect for all peoples, students and faculty take inspiration from Christian witness in Palestine to envision peacemaking in settings around the world. — J. Nelson Kraybill, President Emeritus of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a participant in the Peace Studies program in 2021-22.

The BIPJ is also now offering a two-year, 39 credit, accredited MA in Peace and Justice in partnership with St. Stephen’s University, New Brunswick, Canada.

The programs of the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice are open to people of all faiths who are concerned for the advancement of peace and justice in the world, and who seek to be agents for change in their daily lives. The various programs of the BIPJ serve the Palestinian community, as well as students and researchers from throughout the world.

We welcome you to explore studying with the Bethlehem Institute of Peace and Justice!