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The Challenge of Changing Funeral Ministry - Further Details

This event will follow on from the Transforming Worship Southwest event in March which was led by Sandra Millar and others.  We will continue to explore how changes in culture are significantly changing funeral practices.  This can be seen particularly in light of a new trend, that of immediate cremation after death, often called ‘direct’ cremation, with no formal funeral service at all.  This may have been accelerated by the difficulties of the Covid 19 pandemic, but, in one post-pandemic survey, 80% of the bereaved thought that there were problems with their grief due to the lack of ability to attend a service.  Without a funeral, how do relatives and friends experience a ‘proper ending’, a ‘good send-off’, and a putting a loved one ‘to rest’?

More changes are on the way.  There are already questions about ecological funerals and woodland burials.  Water-cremation, a process also called ‘alkaline hydrolysis’, is a growing trend in America and is one of the three eco-friendly funerals offered by the Co-op funerals.

And then we still have the subsequent problem of what do we do with the ashes?  Does this create some new opportunities for the church?  Can we have a funeral with the ashes rather than a coffin and how can we adapt the liturgy appropriately and sensitively?  Can we offer some kind of memorial service to celebrate the life of a loved one?  What about further use of ashes, for example, in jewellery?  And accepting that some people will ‘scatter’ ashes later, can we offer some advice on how to do this with some suggestions and resources to make this a meaningful and fitting moment?

Presentations from the keynote speakers will be followed by discussion in break out groups. There will also be a Q and A session with opportunity to share resources and best practice.

Please contact Revd Helen Bent, helenbent99@gmail.com, to register your place and make payment.  Then you will receive confirmation of your booking, the Zoom login link and the running programme for the morning.