In Accompany Them with Singing—The Christian Funeral Thomas G. Long, one of America’s most trusted and thoughtful pulpit voices, provides a much needed theological and cultural critique of today’s Christian funeral.
Long begins by describing how the Christian funeral developed historically, theologically, and liturgically and then discusses recent cultural trends in funeral practices. Long argues that the proper Christian funeral should be constructed around the metaphor of the deceased as a saint traveling on a baptismal journey toward God, accompanied by the community of faith on “the last mile of the way,” and calls for the church to reclaim this classic metaphor.
The book is available for purchase through www.TheThoughtfulChristian.com and other retailers. Tom Long talks about the book in the video below.
What Others Have Said about Accompany Them with Singing:
“A welcome theological resource and practical guide for pastors and others who care for the dying and officiate at Christian funerals.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Long’s book is not only an excellent resource for Christian ministers, but it is also lively reading for anyone interested about the nature and practice of funerals in America both today and in the past.”
—Foreword Reviews
“Accompany Them with Singing is a gift to pastors and lay leaders guiding families through grief, and a primer for anyone thinking about death or preparing a service for a loved one.”
—Christianity Today
“As a result of Long’s careful and thorough work, we all have the opportunity to reevaluate our theologies about death and funerals and to become more intentional practitioners of this sacred rite.”
—Review and Expositor
“An indispensable and luminous guide for clergy, families, funeral directors. I think it will be the text of record on this subject for the next fifty years.”
—Thomas Lynch, author of The Undertaking: Studies from the Dismal Trade and coauthor of The Good Funeral: Death, Grief, and the Community of Care
“Long’s critique of the Christian funerals will challenge many of us to examine our funeral practices. Theologically, historically, practically, ritually, pastorally, and individually, Long’s book can stimulate and guide the serious minister into more ‘Christian’ funeral practices.”
—Sharing the Practice
“[Long] has given us a book as creative as the title promises, both readable and broad, that pastoral caregivers and both college and seminary professors will welcome enthusiastically.”
—H. Richard Rutherford, C.S.C., University of Portland, Portland, Oregon, and author of Death of a Christian: The Order of Christian Funerals
