Kathleen D. Billman

“The Dust in All Our Days: The Gift of Lament in Ordinary and Extraordinary Time”

This presentation will explore ways in which the gift of the biblical lament tradition may inform Christian worship in ordinary time and festival times, not only in times of bereavement, and how lament and praise are intimately related in vibrant worship.

Kathleen D. Billman is Professor of Pastoral Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Thomas Long

“Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral”

This presentation will examine the biblical and theological images and convictions that undergird Christian funerals and memorial rituals and will explore how funerals and memorial services today may be more faithful expressions of the gospel.

Thomas G. Long is the Bandy Professor of Preaching, Graduate Division of Religion, Candler School of Theology, Emory Graduate School, Atlanta, Georgia.

James Nieman and Thomas Schattauer

"About Bodies and Christian Funerals"

Deeper appreciation of places and persons in the funeral liturgy can help us reclaim a realistic and authentic voice about human dying and living. In particular, we will explore the ritual pathways that employ stational movement and scriptural moves, followed by the ritual importance of the physical presence and verbal presentation of the deceased.

James Nieman is Professor of Practical Theology, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT.

Thomas Schattauer is Professor of Liturgics and Dean of the Chapel
Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, IA.