ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Liturgical aspects of funeral services in Reformed Churches of African origin

 

 

Rantoa Letsosa

North-West University, School of Ecclesiastical Studies, Practical Theology, Faculty of Theology, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

How can the Reformed Churches of African origin arrive at a Biblical and contextual liturgy for their funeral services? Liturgy in death situations teaches people the meaning of death, and to the African, a proper funeral service or burial is a sign of respect to the deceased. Guidelines are given on how funeral services may be conducted so that they can help focus on the resurrection of the body, and the new life waiting ahead, rather than on ancestral veneration. These guidelines comprise a liturgy for mourning and funeral service, especially that at the graveside. This article is liturgical and does not intend to be dogmatic in its research.

Keywords: Liturgy; culture; funeral service; reformed churches of African origin; burial

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Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

References

Achtemeier, P.J. (ed.), 1985, Harper's Bible dictionary, CD-ROM, Harper & Row, San Francisco.         [ Links ]

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Forrester, D., McDonald, J.I.H & Tellini, G., 1983. Encounter with God. Clark, Edinburgh.         [ Links ]

Kongocha, C., 2000. 'The funeral rites and inculturation', Spearhead, 40-47.         [ Links ]

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Macleod, D., 1966, Presbyterian worship, John Knox Press, Richmond.         [ Links ]

Orion, P.E., 1966, The funeral vestige or value? Abingdon Press, New York.         [ Links ]

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Pretorius, E.E., 1998, 'Dood en begrafnis in die negentiende eeu' [Death and burial in the nineteenth century], Studia Historicae Ecclesiasticae 24, 188-205.

Rowell, G., 1977, The liturgy of Christian burial: An introductory survey of the historical development of Christian burial rites, SPCK, London.         [ Links ]

Tlhagale, O.M.I., 1998, 'Enculturation: Bringing the African culture into the Church', Journal of Black Theology in South Africa12(2), 1-18.         [ Links ]

White, J.F., 1990, Introduction to Christian worship John Knox Press, Louisville.         [ Links ]

 

 

Correspondence:
Rantoa Letsosa
PO Box 20679
Noordbrug 2522
South Africa
Email: rantoa.letsosa@gmail.com

Received: 24 Nov. 2009
Accepted: 03 Aug. 2010
Published: 01 Oct. 2010