Funerals and Ministry with the Grieving (including Caring in Times of Loss and Grief)
Training for Lay people involved in leading or helping with Funerals.
Funerals
The Christian recognition of death is a part of the Church’s offering of the whole of life to God. The Funeral Service is a time:
(a) to worship God, celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that witness to the faithfulness of God in life and death;
(b) to give thanks for a specific person’s life and mourn that person’s death;
(c) to dispose reverently of the body.
The Funeral Service witnesses to the reality of death, and to the fact that death is a basic part of our common humanity that all must face. However, as each human life is of individual worth to God, the minister should make each funeral a unique occasion.
An 4-day Introductory course on
Funerals and Ministry with the Grieving
Background
Initially, this course was planned to meet an expressed need. Several Congregations and Presbyteries asked in 2005 about the possibility of designing a course for Elders who are sometimes required to take (or assist with) funerals in their local areas. During 2005-2007, materials and educational experiences were trialled in several settings. Since then, with an increasing move towards developing resources for Resource Ministry, this course has evolved to focus on Ministry Practice around the time of death for both laity and clergy.
The material has been developed within a framework that takes into account the relationships and understandings of ministry in the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA). Having been designed in response to a request by UCA members, several assumptions are made:
1) that there will be a diversity of views among students and facilitators about death, dying and appropriate ministry practice and the role of the Church (and its representatives);
2) participants are aware of the polity and ethos of the Uniting Church as expressed in its Basis of Union (1992 ed) and the pastoral boundaries (as articulated in the Codes of Ethics – i. for Ministers AND ii. For Lay Preachers);
3) there is a clear expectation that Presiders acting on behalf of the Uniting Church would function under the discipline of the Uniting Church, being accountable to both local Congregation and Presbytery for their professional conduct.
This course has been developed by the following practitioners:
(Note: each brings a diverse range of contextual experiences in Ministry around Loss and Grief)
- Rev Dr Keree Casey – former RNSH Chaplain and UTC Adjunct Faculty member, responsible for training Candidates in Funerals Ministry during 2006-2007;
- Rev YW Amelia Koh-Butler – Director of the ELM Centre – the Adult Education unit of the NSW-ACT Synod, Uniting Church in Australia;
- Rev Bronwyn Murphy – Resource Minister, Macquarie-Darling Presbytery, NSW;
- Rev John Ruhle – Formerly Resource Minister, Mid-Lachlan Mission Resource Area, Central West Presbytery, NSW and currently serving in Congregational Ministry i Queensland
Additional materials have been sourced from:
- Rev Janet Dawson – Presbytery Minister & Chairperson, Mid North Coast Presbytery, NSW;
- ‘Caring in Times of Loss and Grief’ – An ELM Resource – 2nd Edition, Ed. J.Drayton. 2007.
Competencies
Understanding:
- the role of the church in relation to ministry with the dying and the bereaved
- death and dying
- care, compassion and the grief cycle
- rites and rituals (including funerals and services of celebration)
- eulogies and tributes
- appropriate pastoral care for bereaved families
Demonstrating an ability to:
- craft a funeral using the liturgical resources and guidelines for funerals found in 'Uniting in Worship 2' (UIW2)
- preside at a funeral service
- work with a bereaved family to help create a funeral service
- work with funeral directors
- undertake pastoral visitation
Outline of Course
Session 1 Overview and Introduction of Key Themes (90 mins)
1. Welcome and Outline of Purpose of Course and sharing of materials
2. Hopes and Fears
3. What experiences do we bring?
4. Key areas to develop – priorities for learning and resourcing
5. Expectations – for us; for congregations; for the publics?
Session 2 Context for Ministry with the Dying
1. World Views and Theological underpinnings
2. Myths and Sacred Stories around Death and Life
3. Good deaths and bad deaths – what to expect
4. Practical skills – Ministry with the Dying
Session 3 Context for Ministry with the Bereaved
1. Funerals
2. Constructing a liturgy
3. Use of Symbols
Session 4 The ‘Preacher’ bits – Sermons and Eulogies
1. Preaching
2. Funeral Sermons
3. Eulogies
Session 5 Practicals
Session 6-8 Exposure Visits – Funeral Directors / Cemetery / Crematorium / Mortuary
Session 9 Debrief (approx 60 mins)
Session 10 Reflective Practice (Follow-up)
1. Written Reflection on issues raised in Orientation
2. Written notes about ‘own’ funeral arrangements
3. Critical Incident Reflection
Session 11 Further Thinking and Integration
1. Different Cultural Practices and Understandings
2. Goals for Field Placements
3. Getting my own house in order!
Session 12 Field Placement OR Role Play – Visit to the Bereaved
Session 13 Field Placement OR Case Study – Preparation of Funeral
Session 14 Field Placement OR Role Play – Participation in Leading a Funeral
Format of the Course
(The 4 days are usually scheduled over 4 weeks. The first 2 days may be held consecutively, but there normally needs to be some space given to the later sessions.)
Day 1 Sessions 1, 2, 11 and preparation for 3 and 4
Day 2 Sessions 3, 4 and 5
Day 3 Sessions 6-9 and homework based on Session 10
Day 4 Sessions 10, 12-14
Funerals Training Courses (Summary for Bulletins)
This is normally a 4 day course
Program: 9.30am-4.30pm each day
Please note: Day 3 of the course involves a visit to a Funeral Director, Crematorium, Cemetery and Mortuary. Participants are asked to dress appropriately, as if attending a Funeral, on Day 3.
ELM Funerals Courses are being offered in the Macquarie-Darling and Hunter Presbyteries by their respective Resource Ministers. Please contact the Presbytery Offices directly.
