September 19, 2010
Reported by Sam Lee
Written by Lydia Ma

Making funeral arrangements and presiding over memorial services are important tasks that come with the job of being a minister. To help ministers excel in handling such occasions, Shou-Shan Presbytery recently invited pastors to view and discuss the film "7 Days in Heaven" as part of their on-the-job training.

The presbytery hoped the film would remind clergy of the importance of being by a family's side in the aftermath of the death of a loved one because a pastor's thoughtful assistance would enhance trust and intimacy between clergy and church members. It would also correspond with God's command for Christians to "mourn with those who mourn."

"7 Days in Heaven" describes the journey of a woman as she makes funeral arrangements for her father. The movie was originally an award-winning essay before it was turned into screenplay. One of the film's co-producers is Wang Yu-lin, a Christian who currently attends a church in Taichung.

PCT already offers wedding and funeral arrangement seminars for its ministers as part of their on-the-job training. This year, 11 pastors from Shou-Shan Presbytery attended the seminar, which included viewing the movie at a theatre and discussing their prior experiences in arranging funerals afterward.

According to one of the discussion leaders, adequately helping Christians with the funeral of a loved one can help church members get to know and trust their church community and pastor to a deeper level. Hence, it's an opportunity and responsibility that pastors must take seriously.

Taiwan Church News