Travel-Learning Experience: Berlin, Germany
June 26 - July 3, 2024

Faith, Lies and Spies: The Life and Ministry of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
with Dr. Andrew Root
We will explore big questions of theology and culture together through the lens and story of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. "Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. Bonhoeffer's writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential; his 1937 book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic." (Wikipedia)
Our home base for this travel and learning experience will be the Historic Bonhoeffer Haus, where Dietrich and his siblings plotted the conspiracy to kill Hitler, and where Bonhoeffer was arrested by the Gestapo on April 5, 1943. Dr. Root, (aka., our own Andy!), author of Bonhoeffer As Youth Worker: A Theological Vision for Discipleship and Life Together, whose own work and thinking has been deeply shaped by Bonhoeffer, will guide us through the story of Bonhoeffer's life, and into Bonhoeffer's theology of "place-sharing," where we encounter Jesus Christ, who comes into this life with and for us, when we share deeply in the lives of others.
All this is set in the vibrant and historical city of Berlin, in which, for all intents and purposes, the 20th century began (with the Declaration of WWI in 1914), and ended, (with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989). Many Berlin sites, such as the wall, various museums and Confessing Churches are included in this travel-learning experience.
We'll end the trip with an optional day trip to Wittenberg, to jump centuries earlier in our Reformed Tradition with the story of Martin Luther and the beginning of the Reformation.
Space is limited to 20 participants
Spots Tentatively Held as of 5/24/23: 5
with Dr. Andrew Root
We will explore big questions of theology and culture together through the lens and story of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. "Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. Bonhoeffer's writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential; his 1937 book The Cost of Discipleship is described as a modern classic." (Wikipedia)
Our home base for this travel and learning experience will be the Historic Bonhoeffer Haus, where Dietrich and his siblings plotted the conspiracy to kill Hitler, and where Bonhoeffer was arrested by the Gestapo on April 5, 1943. Dr. Root, (aka., our own Andy!), author of Bonhoeffer As Youth Worker: A Theological Vision for Discipleship and Life Together, whose own work and thinking has been deeply shaped by Bonhoeffer, will guide us through the story of Bonhoeffer's life, and into Bonhoeffer's theology of "place-sharing," where we encounter Jesus Christ, who comes into this life with and for us, when we share deeply in the lives of others.
All this is set in the vibrant and historical city of Berlin, in which, for all intents and purposes, the 20th century began (with the Declaration of WWI in 1914), and ended, (with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989). Many Berlin sites, such as the wall, various museums and Confessing Churches are included in this travel-learning experience.
We'll end the trip with an optional day trip to Wittenberg, to jump centuries earlier in our Reformed Tradition with the story of Martin Luther and the beginning of the Reformation.
Space is limited to 20 participants
Spots Tentatively Held as of 5/24/23: 5
Details:
DATES:
The dates for the course will be JUNE 26 - JULY 3, 2024 which includes travel days.
(Please book your own airline travel)
COST:
Estimate: $1800 for single occupancy, $1450 for double - Trip fee includes:
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
TIMING:
Registration open October 1, 2023 - February 1, 2024.
The dates for the course will be JUNE 26 - JULY 3, 2024 which includes travel days.
(Please book your own airline travel)
COST:
Estimate: $1800 for single occupancy, $1450 for double - Trip fee includes:
- Hotel accommodations for 6 nights, and breakfast each morning
- All tours, admission fees, and gratuities that are part of the course
- Berlin Welcome Pass for train transportation
- Two group dinners
- All instruction
- Airfare (approx. $1,500 – purchase your own ticket)
- International medical insurance ($75 - optional but highly recommended)
- Lunches ($60)
- 4 dinners ($120)
- Snacks and souvenirs
- Transportation from the airport to the hotel when you arrive in Berlin ($5)
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
- Wednesday - Travel Day, Check in to The Hampton by Hilton, Berlin City
- Thursday - Walking Tour of Berlin, Topography of Terror Museum, Dinner at Maximilian's Restaurant
- Friday - National Archives to view Bonhoeffer letters, Bonhoeffer Haus and waking tour of Gruenwald (Bonhoeffer's childhood)
- Saturday - Tour of Sophieneck with Schoenebeck Kulturarrangements (Confessing Church and East Berlin neighborhood), group dinner at Sophianeck Restaurant
- Sunday - Bonhoeffer Haus & free afternoon/evening
- Monday - Bonhoeffer Haus, optional Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
- Tuesday - Wittenberg, optional
- Wednesday - Check out of hotel (fly home or carry on traveling on own)
TIMING:
Registration open October 1, 2023 - February 1, 2024.