Presbyterian / Uniting

In 1977 in Australia, two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Australia was incorporated into a new Church called the Uniting Church of Australia with the former being considered more progressive and liberal than the latter.

The afterlife for Presbyterians is destined to be either eternal life in Heaven or eternal life in Hell decided on the life the person has held in addition to their relationship with God.

Before the funeral

·         A pastor will be contacted to assist the family with the planning of the funeral proceedings, usually alongside a funeral director

·         Embalming of the body may take place, and in some churches, it will be required before any viewing

·         Cremation, while strictly allowed, is not a common practice within the Uniting and Presbyterian Churches with the preference being to intern the body through burial, leaving it intact. Given this, the body will usually be present at the funeral

During the service

·         The funeral will often happen a few days following the death, and the location will depend on the type of service chosen. Presbyterian funeral order of service may take place as:

o   a graveside funeral is conducted at the site of burial and will involve both the funeral and the interment at the same time;

o   a memorial in which the body won’t be present for some reason, most likely carried out in a church, or;

o   a traditional funeral service in a church with present either the body in a casket or ashes in an urn.

·         Readings, Presbyterian funeral hymns and prayers will be led by the pastor. Eulogies are not delivered in the service itself, however, may be done beforehand, at the memorial or the reception. Communion normally isn’t a part of the proceedings

·         Like in Lutheran funerals, a white pall may be placed over the casket (should there be one present), representing that man are all equal under the eyes of God

·         Flowers are to be kept simple

·         Depending on the type of funeral service, it will last from 30 to 60 minutes. Dress in formal, dark clothing

After the service

·         If the service was held in the church with the body in a casket, it will then be taken to a burial site for internment

·         There may be a reception afterwards hosted in the house of a family member or friend as a chance to share food and drink

·         A set mourning period is not observed in the Uniting and Presbyterian Churches