Features
Lessons from the modest funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II
Having ruled for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II, died on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at the age of 96 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. A State funeral service was held in her honour on Monday at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022, followed by a committal service at the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Winsor, where she was finally interred.
With all her riches, Her Majesty, the queen received a modest and simplest funeral one could think of in this wide world. She reportedly left behind over $500 million in personal assets from her 70 years on the throne. Her son, King Charles III, who was newly anointed also has an estimated net worth of $600 million, inheriting the nearly $23 billion in assets belonging to the Crown Estate among others.
COMMITTAL SERVICE FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH
After all the pomp and pageantry, the Presiding Archbishop at the committal service remarked, “Now let us remove all symbol of power from the coffin, so that our sister, Elizabeth can be committed to the grave as a simple Christian”. So, the staff of office, sceptre, the crown and all valuables were removed. The queen was buried with nothing.
“Beloved, this life is transient, be humble in power and life generally, for you came with nothing and you will go back with nothing. Life is vanity”. These are exhortations we often hear from pastors and the clergy who have been officiating burial services worldwide.
The queen’s modest and simple funeral has brought to the fore, the need for various families to cut down cost and expenditure on their departed ones and use the money and resources they have wisely and judiciously. There is no need wasting a lot of money on the dead no matter how rich and affluent they were when they were alive.
FUNERALS IN GHANA
Over here in Ghana, funerals are more than occasion to mourn the dead. They offer opportunities for families and loved ones to pay their last respect to the dead. Aside the conventional reasons for funerals, organising funerals in Ghana, serves as a platform to showcase riches and affluence by the bereaved families. The situation is so pronounced that families who do not have the means to organise lavished funerals go to the extent of borrowing money and other facilities to arrange such funerals. In effect, funeral organisation, has become a competition in our dear country where families compare and contrast.
A CASE OF A MAN WHO DIED THROUGH ACCIDENT
For instance, there was a case of a man who died through a fatal lorry accident. The impact of that accident was so devastating to the extent that the body was completely mutilated. The hands and legs of the deceased were severed, with his intestines gushing out from the stomach. The police who collected the body and took it to the mortuary and the mortuary attendants advised that the nature and condition of the mutilated body, demanded that it should be buried on time to forestall further decomposition. The families of the deceased who were later contacted and advised to get rid of the body quickly, were not in favour because they claimed they wanted to give the bereaved a befitting funeral and burial.
According to them, the children of the deceased who were living abroad, had requested that the severed hands and legs as well as the intestines should be stitched and kept in the morgue for a month whilst they prepared to come down to arrange a befitting burial for their father. They gave an initial money to be given to the mortuary attendants for that purpose, promising that they would pay for any further costs involved in the storage of the corpse. The elders went ahead to carry out their wishes and the body was prepared and stored in the fridge awaiting their arrival. Indeed, the children returned to Ghana as promised and paid the rest of the money involved. When finally, they went and removed the body from the mortuary and laid it in state for wake to enable the family, friends and sympathisers to file past, it was a disaster. The bad scent and odour that emanated from the decomposed body were so nauseating and disgusting, turning mourners away from the funeral. The coffin containing the body had to be covered and buried immediately in the night. The question was, what have you achieved from all that delays?
BORROWING TO ORGANISE LAVISHED FUNERALS
This is one of the scenarios, I have painted. Indeed, there are a number of unreasonable and unsubstantiated factors that prevent bereaved families from disposing their dead and loved ones in a more modest and simplest form. Some who cannot afford, prefer borrowing monies to raise lavished “serve yourselves parties” after the burial of their dead ones while others go in for the most expensive caskets and vaults for burials. The gatherings are served with food and drinks in a grand style at the expense of the bereaved families.
As John F. Harris, an America Journalist and a co-founder of Politico, an Arlington Virginia-based political news organisation, once wrote, “One day, sooner or later, our bodies will be buried or eaten by worms. Giving that inevitable fate, how can it be argued that the individual during her life or her family after her death, have interests in what happens to the corpse prior to its disposal? If a liver from a corpse will save someone else life, if retaining the heart will enable cardiac surgeons to refine their surgical skills, why should any impediment stands in the way? How can the dead command respect?”
CHRISTIANS AND ISLAMIC VIEWS ABOUT THE DEAD
The various Christian denominations, especially, the Catholic Church hold the view that the dying should be given attention and care to help them live their last moments in dignity and peace. They will be helped by prayer of their relatives who must see to it that the sick receive at the proper time, the sacraments that prepare them to meet the living God. The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity in the faith and hope of the resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy, it honours the children of God who are temples of the Holy Spirit.
In Islam, human dignity is a right given to God to all humans who are referred in the Quran as God’s vicegerents on earth. Islam grants certain rights to humans before they are even born and others after death. Whether dead or alive, the human body created by God in the perfect shape, must be given dignity and respect. This importance of human body is illustrated for instance in the Quran 5:3
CUTTING DOWN COSTS ON FUNERALS
Yes, it is clear and important that we should show love, respect and dignity to our departed loved ones from this earth as echoed by the Holy Bible and the Holy Quran. However, in displaying these qualities, we need to be mindful of the costs involved by cutting down unnecessary expenses when it comes to the organisation of funerals of the beloved ones who have departed from this earth. Yes, we need to say goodbye to our loved ones who are dead and gone, but we should allow modesty and simplicity to take a centre stage in everything we do.
Let us be guided by the shining example of the funeral arrangements of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who in spite of all her wealth and riches, her funeral was very simple and cost effective.
LESSONS FROM THE QUEEN’S DEATH
To conclude this piece, let me re-echo the Archbishop’s last words during the memorial service before the Queen was taken to her grave. Hear him; “Now let us remove all the symbols of power from the coffin, so that our sister Elizabeth can be committed to the grave as a simple Christian”. Immediately, the staff of office was removed, then the sceptre, followed by the crown and all valuables. The Queen was buried with nothing.
Life is, indeed, vanity, it it transient, and that teaches us humility- humility in power, humility in relating with others, humility in our acquisition of wealth and humility in all our endeavours, because in the end, we will go back with nothing.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
0277753946/0248933366
By Charles Neequaye
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace. The same report found that managers spend an average of four hours per week dealing with conflict, and nearly 25 per cent of people think their managers handle conflict poorly or very poorly.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you’re trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved, here are seven steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
1. Don’t put it off
Facing conflict head-on is hard. However, waiting too long to address it can negatively impact your emotional well-being, focus, and the entire office environment. If you’re feeling angry, letting that emotion fester can also escalate it over time. This can make you less responsive to other points of view and make it harder to resolve the issue.
The sooner you can address the conflict, the better it will be for you, the person you disagree with, and your entire team.
2. Learn all you can about the problem
It’s important to determine the type of conflict you’re dealing with. Begin by considering the cause of the conflict. For example, ask yourself whether someone said something that upset you or if you have emotions of anger and resentment that stemmed from something that happened.
Then try to identify if it’s a task, relationship, value, or team conflict. Once you know what type of conflict it is, you can work to resolve it with specific tactics for that situation.
If you skip this step, you may waste time or escalate the situation further by trying to address issues irrelevant to the real conflict.
3. Actively listen
Listen attentively when people share their side of the story. Active listening is one of the most valuable professional skills you can possess. This type of listening involves not only hearing what the other person is saying but also listening to understand their point of view.
No matter your role in conflict, it’s easy to begin sharing your opinion with little regard for the other people involved. However, it’s important to learn about all sides of a disagreement to make well-informed decisions before drawing conclusions.
To reach a resolution, you must step back and prioritize listening over talking. Ultimately, that will encourage the other person to do the same when it’s your turn to speak. –source: betterup.com
Today, I focus on the Temple Of Praise Ministries International (TOP Church) in Helsinki, as I continue my description of personalities or institutions and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland.
The TOP Church in Finland has seen significant strides and accomplishments that must be made known to the public. 
Some history
The Church was established in Finland in September 2016. Since its inception, it has steadily grown both spiritually and numerically, by the grace of God, as disclosed to me by Mr Matthew Anini Twumasi, the Presiding Elder of TOP’s branch in Finland. The TOP Church has other branches across Africa, Europe, and America.
The Church in Finland was founded with a vision to create a welcoming and dynamic community where people could experience God’s love and grace (see, www.topchurchfinland.org). According to Presiding Elder Matthew, the TOP Church operates within a unique environment where Christianity coexists with what is seen as a largely secular society.
Despite this, he submits, there are significant opportunities for outreach, unity, and demonstrating the love of Christ through service and community engagement.
Activities
Church services at the TOP Church are typically held on Sundays for the main worship. In addition, there are mid-week prayer sessions, Saturday prayer services, and a half-night service held on the last Friday of every month. “We also organise quarterly programs”, Elder Matthew added.
His impression of the Church so far has been positive. “It is a vibrant and welcoming community where members are committed to worship, fellowship, and supporting one another in faith”, he stated.
In sum, Elder Matthew said the Church continues to grow by God’s grace. “We remain hopeful and committed to spreading the Gospel, strengthening the faith of our members, and making a positive impact in society”, he continued.
Achievements
The TOP Church has a number of achievements and achievements. Some of the strengths include strong community bonds, cultural diversity, and deep commitment to spiritual growth.
I also remember that during the COVID-19 period, I heard that the TOP Church was one such bodies that hugely supported its members and others to cope with the situation.
According to Elder Matthew, the challenges facing the church include “adapting to cultural differences, engaging the younger generation, expanding outreach in a secular society, and securing a permanent place of worship”.
Role in the Ghanaian community in Finland
The TOP Church plays a prominent role as a religious group that serves Ghanaian migrants and others in the Finnish society.
Thus, the TOP Church is a religious body for Ghanaian migrants in Finland and other nationalities who want to worship with them for diversity and better intercultural and multicultural understanding.
The Church also has mechanisms in place to support its members who are bereaved as a way to commiserate with them in times of death and funerals.
The Ghanaian community has played a vital role in the growth of the Church. Their strong sense of fellowship, dedication to worship, and active participation have helped build a solid foundation and attract others to the ministry, according to Elder Matthew.
Integration
By its activities, the TOP Church is helping to ensure integration of its members well into the Finish society.
This is important since social interaction and citizens’ well-being are an important part of the integration process.
The role of migrant associations and groups such as TOP Church acting as bridge-builders for the integration and inclusion of migrants through participation in the decision making process and by acting as a representative voice is highly appreciated in Finland. Thank you!
GHANA MATTERS column appears fortnightly. Written in simple, layman’s terms, it concentrates on matters about Ghana and beyond. It focuses on everyday life issues relating to the social, cultural, economic, religious, political, health, sports, youth, gender, etc. It strives to remind us all that Ghana comes first. The column also takes a candid look at the meanings and repercussions of our actions, especially those things we take for granted or even ignore. There are key Ghanaian values we should uphold rather than disregard with impunity. We should not overlook the obvious. We need to search for the hidden or deeply embedded values and try to project them.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
