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() Presbyterian Traditions

The Burning Bush witnessed by Prophet Moses is the symbol of the Presbyterian in , and is embodied within the logo..

PRESBYTERIAN TRADITIONS (ALSO KNOWN AS PRESBYTERIANISM)

Presbyterianism, a Christian movement, owes its origin to , a 16th century French reformer.

The Christian is the key holy book of the Presbyterian Traditions, who share the principal beliefs of other traditions of (described on page 16).

Presbyterianism is now a worldwide Christian movement. are called ministers.

167 Summary of Essential Practice Points: Please refer to the full text of the highlighted points related to the following summary points.

Profile of Presbyterianism in if a Presbyterian is not available. A 1 Ireland: non-ordained chaplain or family member may pray for the child, including naming the child, but they Presbyterianism is the fourth largest (stated) cannot perform the of . religious affiliation in the Irish State. Members may come from the Republic of Ireland, and new communities. The Presbyterian , the Church of , the and the Presbyterian Church of are in the same family of churches.

Religious contacts and religious 2 practices:

Each healthcare setting has a designated Presbyterian chaplaincy resource whose role is to assist in responding to the religious needs of members. The Presbyterian Church, relatively speaking, places less emphasis on religious ceremony and .

3 Death-related religious :

There is no formal death-related rite/ritual that needs to be performed. In the event of death the family may request that the person’s minister or the chaplain be called, who will assist with if the family so wishes.

4 Cleaning and touching the body:

The normal washing and preparation procedure can be carried out on a deceased person.

5 Initiation ritual/:

If a newborn child is in imminent danger of death and the parents wish for the child to be baptised it is necessary to call a Presbyterian minister. An ordained chaplain from the Church of Ireland or Methodist Church may perform the baptism

168 Profile of Presbyterianism in • Some hospitals operate on-call rotas for Ireland members of a group of Christian churches including Church of Ireland, Methodist and Presbyterian who provide appropriate pastoral care when requested. When a Presbyterianism on the island of Ireland dates back non-Presbyterian chaplain is called the to approximately the 1600s. chaplain should be made aware of what is being requested and be agreeable to Census 2006 indicated that the Presbyterian Church fulfilling the request. Additionally, where increased its membership by 14.4% between 2002 possible, the person should be notified that and 2006, registering 23,546 members in 2006. the chaplain being called is from another denomination. Essential Practice Point 1 • A person may wish to see a representative of their own , or, if possible, their own minister. Presbyterianism is the fourth largest (stated) • The Presbyterian Church, relatively religious affiliation in the Irish State. Members speaking, places less emphasis on religious may come from the Republic of Ireland, Northern ceremony and ritual. The Sacrament of Ireland, Scotland and new communities including Holy Communion, a religious ceremony Europe, Africa, South America and Asia. common to some Christian traditions, is practised. If the person wishes to receive The family of churches in Ireland and the United the Sacrament of Holy Communion the Kingdom includes the Presbyterian Church of Presbyterian chaplain should be called. Ireland, the , the United Where this is not possible it may be Reformed Church and the Presbyterian Church acceptable for a chaplain from the Church of Wales. of Ireland or Methodist Church to administer the sacrament.

Care of the ill • The person’s family may also wish to be present.

Religious contacts and religious Transfusion and Organ practices Transplantation

There is no religious objection to these procedures. Essential Practice Point 2

• Each healthcare setting has a designated Presbyterian chaplaincy resource whose role is to assist in responding to the religious needs of members.

169 Care of the Dying Postmortem requirements

There is no religious objection to postmortem. Death-related religious rituals Interment ritual

3 Both burial and cremation are acceptable generally. Essential Practice Point It is customary for a funeral service to be held in the person’s own home, place of or crematorium and the arrangements would be made • When death is imminent the family may by the next of kin with their own minister and the request that the person’s minister or the funeral director. A religious service in the hospital Presbyterian chaplain be called to the would only be provided if specifically requested by hospital but there is no formal rite/ritual that the family. needs to be performed.

• After the person has died, if requested, prayers would be said with the family if they Religious and Symbols are present but there is no formal rite/ritual that needs to be performed. Such prayers would be for the comfort of the bereaved Personal and religious Items because the deceased is now in the hands of . Therefore, it is not necessary to call • The person may wish to have a copy of the the minister or chaplain if the person has Christian Bible. died alone. • Any other items are likely to be specific to the individual and the family rather than have Customs to be observed at death religious significance.

Presbyterians of Irish origin may expect a health practitioner to sit with them in the moments following Use of religious symbols the loss of a loved one. It is important to discern the family expectations in these matters and be • A plain cross (symbol of Christ as the risen sensitive to them. If in doubt, check with colleagues Lord) may be present. or the chaplain. • Candles, beads or a crucifix are not appropriate within the tradition and none Cleaning and touching the body should be displayed in the mortuary area.

Essential Practice Point 4

The normal washing and preparation procedure can be carried out.

170 Additional Notes on Maternity Memento of a deceased child and Paediatric Care Religious representatives indicate that it is important that parents are helped in their grieving and from a religious perspective mementos of a child are Initiation ritual/infant baptism acceptable. Developing a Presbyterian Essential Practice Point 5 Contact

• The Presbyterian Church practises the Sacrament of Baptism, the initiation ritual The principle healthcare facilities have an common across Christian traditions, in appointed Presbyterian chaplain who can be infancy. If a newborn child is in imminent contacted through local chaplaincy/pastoral care danger of death it may be important for departments. Other settings, such as long-term the parent(s) that the child be baptised, care facilities, may depend on the local minister to and in such cases it is necessary to call a provide pastoral care services. Presbyterian minister. An ordained chaplain from the Church of Ireland or Methodist Church may perform the baptism if a Contributors Presbyterian Minister is not available. A non-ordained chaplain or family member may pray for the child, including naming Three Presbyterian chaplains who provide pastoral the child, but they cannot perform the care services in Irish hospitals jointly contributed to Sacrament of Baptism. this section. They are Reverend C. Mary Hunter, Mrs Susan Dawson and Reverend Denis Campbell. • However, should a child die before being Reverend Hunter was the lead contact and she baptised the child is deemed to be safe approved the finalised section. in the hands of God and baptism is not essential.

Foetal, infant and child death

• In the case of miscarriage or stillbirth the wishes of the parent(s) should be followed regarding contacting a chaplain or their own minister.

• Normally a service is held for deceased infants and children. The arrangements for such would be the same as for an adult and would be made by the next of kin with their own minister and the funeral director.

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