LE3 .A278 2014

2014

Trites, Allison

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

J. Peter Holmes has written an outstanding thesis entitled, Towards A Methodology for Preaching at Funerals. Holmes identifies a major trend in his home province of Ontario where fewer people opt for religious funeral services when a loved one dies. Those who choose to have a type of service rarely prefer the traditional service, in favor of the growing trend of a ―celebration of life‖ service. Unlike Ontario where mourners turn less and less to the church for funerals, Atlantic Canadians still look to the church more than any other institution for funeral rites presenting an important opportunity for the church. Chapter one begins by examining the current state of affairs between the church and the world regarding funeral addresses. In general terms, the church today is in search of relevance on numerous issues including the administering of funeral rites. Using the qualitative research method, chapter two faces the serious ―What do bereaved families want in a funeral address?‖ This is an important question and it is be addressed carefully making use of a research questionnaire circulated among former parishioners of the writer. This research will seek to capture reactions to a specific type of funeral address from parishioners who heard the writer speak at funerals. The complete set of questions and answers comprise Appendix Two. Chapter three is a literature review which surveys some of the major textbooks on preaching to highlight the neglect of the funeral addresses. Situations of death and reaction to them in the Bible make up chapter four. The fifth chapter moves the study towards a theology of funeral addresses. The chapter examines the tension faced by ministers regarding how to include adequate biographical material while upholding vii biblical truth in a funeral address. The chapter suggests a roadmap which includes a way to decipher faith, or lack thereof, in the lives of the bereaved. Issues of methodology are tackled in chapter six. The goal is to provide assistance to all ministers seeking to accomplish the important task of telling a life story of the departed one in a truthful and delightful way. Chapter seven rounds up the study with a focus on the thesis title. It is a way to wind down the thesis study keeping in mind the original goal. It ties together various components of the thesis showing how building the kingdom of God is accomplished. Chapter eight concludes the research with chapter summaries. The project component of the thesis is a research tool for information gathering by ministers to allow for an accurate exegesis of life. This will facilitate an authentic life story to emerge. The research will seek to note whether any other preachers in Atlantic Canada are going in this direction. Appendices consist of the consent form, questionnaire and responses, the biographical inquiry form, a sermon excerpt from a homiletical giant of another era and examples of funeral addresses created in the fashion suggested by the thesis. The bibliography will carry titles of books and articles cited as well as non-cited ones. While the work of Peter Holmes provided the springboard for this thesis, there is a point of departure in the suggested solution. Holmes puts forward The Four Pages of The Sermon by Paul Scott Wilson as the key for effective preaching at funerals. This thesis proposes telling the story of the departed as the solution to the preaching challenge at funerals. This option removes the dilemma since there is a story to tell from each life. The thesis will argue that celebrating the life created is an act of faith and worship of the creator. viii Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations will be taken from the New International Version.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:309