Stop the Funeral

Ministry involves some truly difficult decisions. Here's an example (and I don't think I made the right one). A vagrant had been murdered in police custody. I conducted the funeral. The family were there. The police were there. The public were there. The press were there. And the undertakers were there. In fact the head of the National Association of Undertakers (NFDA) was there. There were attempts through the courts to stop the funeral. At the last minute, I received a call from the director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). The funeral could go ahead. But wait, the family wanted to view the body. The head of the NFDA said no, the body smelled. I jumped into the hearse. But no, I said, it didn't smell. He took me aside. The body was awfully disfigured, he said. It would be too traumatic for the family. The press (EWN) were standing around with big cameras. They said the coffin should be opened. I said call the pall-bearers, bring the coffin to the front of the Church, and let's get started with the service.