Thursday, October 15, 2015: 1:00 PM-2:00 PM
Mustang 4 (Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center) - Lone Star Tower - Level 3
Primary Presenter:
Thomas G. Long, PhD
,
Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, GA
In a time when the culture tends to devalue funerals and other rituals around death and bereavement, and in a time when many people are indicating “no service desired” when a loved one dies, this session will take a fresh look at the value of funerals. The emphasis will not fall upon funerals as places of “grief management,” but instead on the capacity of funerals to accomplish an even larger task: repairing meaning for those for whom death has made life chaotic and meaningless. Faculty will explore how hospice staff, funeral home professionals and religious leaders can work together to help families reclaim the healing power of funerals.
Learning Objectives:
1. Name significant changes in North American funeral practices over the last century
2. Evaluate the cultural and spiritual impact of these changes
3. Describe how to help families reclaim funerals as healing rituals
CE/CME: Counselor, Nurse and Social Worker