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Death-related religious rituals
Essential Practice Point 3
- In times of critical illness or imminent death a Baptist pastor should be called so that the person and family can receive the spiritual support that they need.
- There is no formal death rite/ritual in the Baptist tradition. The pastor and/or other members may recite Christian hymns (songs) and prayers at the bedside. Holding the person’s hand to give comfort and
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Cleaning and touching the body
Postmortem requirements
There is no religious objection to postmortem.
Interment ritual
Both burial and cremation are acceptable generally. Usually a funeral service is held and the community provide support to the family.
Bereavement
The pastor will become involved with the family to aid the bereavement process. Baptists tend to emphasise the support provided by community in times of bereavement.