| WASHINGTON — A survey of Presbyterian pastors and parishioners shows that most prefer a memorial service to a funeral, and want their bodies cremated rather than buried.
The periodic survey, dubbed the Presbyterian Panel and conducted by the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Research Services Office, measured pastors’, elders’ and members’ thoughts about death and dying in late 2002 and was released last week. The survey was sent to 3,000 panelists who respond to a variety of questionnaires on various subjects over the course of three years.
Forty percent of members and 53 percent of pastors want to be cremated. About 20 percent of respondents weren’t sure.
For those who want to be cremated, one-third of pastors and members want their ashes scattered, while 30 percent of pastors and 25 percent of members want their ashes buried.
About 13 percent from both groups want their ashes placed in a memorial columbarium, while only 4 percent of members and 1 percent of pastors want their ashes kept by a family member or friend.
Only about one-third or less of respondents want a traditional funeral with their body present, while about half of members, and two-thirds of pastors, want a memorial service, where their body is not present.
Substantial majorities of those preferring a funeral want a closed casket at their services, with fewer than 16 percent who want an open casket. Well more than half want a eulogy delivered by a pastor, while only one-third want a family member to deliver a tribute.
At the services, members’ favorite hymns seem to be “Amazing Grace,” followed by “How Great Thou Art,” “In the Garden” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Among pastors, “For All the Saints” ranks highest, followed by “Amazing Grace,” “Be Thou My Vision” and “A Mighty Fortress.”
On the afterlife, 87 percent of members and 92 percent of pastors believe in heaven, compared to only 57 percent of members and 64 percent of pastors believe in hell.
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