MFN Retreat: The Arts of Farewell and End-of-Life Rituals
Saturday, February 28, 12-3pm ET/11am-2pm CT/10am-1pm MT/9am-12pm PT
The three-hour online retreat, led by Rev. Mary Ann Macklin, will serve as a professional development opportunity, bridging theoretical study with real-world ministerial competence, including emerging end-of-life practices in the 21st century.
By the end of the retreat, participants will be able to:
- Articulate the spiritual implications of various end-of-life rituals across different faith traditions and cultural backgrounds.
- Analyze case studies involving pastoral care situations related to death (e.g., sudden death, interfaith families, alienated family members).
- Demonstrate proficiency in leading planning conversations that discern a family's needs, values, and theological language.
- Develop a working outline for a memorial or funeral service, including attention to liturgical flow and emotional arc.
- Articulate end-of-life rituals for the body, cremation, and other post-death scenarios.
- Evaluate the ethical and professional boundaries inherent in end-of-life pastoral care.
Pre-work will be sent in advance of retreat.
