People looking to mark key milestones in their life with a secular ceremony could soon have the option of a humanist wedding, funeral or child-naming – as the first training course for Maltese celebrants wraps up today.
“A lot of couples say they find it hypocritical to make promises before a god they don’t believe in when religion doesn’t play a part in their lives,” said David Pack, who has trained celebrants with the British Humanist Association for the past 15 years.
Mr Pack was in Malta with fellow trainer Steph Bramwell to carry out an intensive five-day course with six prospective celebrants from the Malta Humanist Association.
The sessions, held at the Education Ministry, focused on interviewing, writing and speaking techniques that humanist celebrants use to deliver completely individualised ceremonies for couples, parents or mourners.
When they actually experience it,they appreciate that it’s all about values and love
Ceremonies typically include readings, music, stories and a discussion of values, all crafted hand-in-hand with those involved.
“As humanists we believe that we can find a way of living and behaving decently without needing reference to any divine authority, drawing on our own human qualities: reason, emotion, experience and empathy,” said Mr Pack.
Humanist funerals and name-givings are fully legal in the UK. The BHA currently has some 300 celebrants and carried out 2,000 funerals in the first three months of the year.
Since weddings are not legally recognised in England and Wales, couples typically have a brief civil ceremony at the local registry office before or after their humanist ceremony.
In Scotland, however, where humanist marriages are legally recognised, more than 20,000 have been held in the past 10 years, and they are expected to outstrip church weddings for the first time this year.
“It’s so important for people who are not religious to have important days in their lives recognised and given respect,” said Ms Bramwell.
In the UK, all trained celebrants undergo an intensive three-month recruitment process, including interviews, written work, in-person training and a probationary period.
Many celebrants come from backgrounds such as counselling or lecturing, which equips them with the skills needed for the job, but Ms Bramwell explained that celebrants also operate as anetwork and support each other in their work.
“If we have a ceremony that’s particularly difficult, such as a child’s funeral, we ask each other for help in how to approach it,” she said.
“Funerals are a difficult area and things can touch you unexpectedly. Many times people come to it because they’ve gone through bereavement and they’ve been helped by someone else.”
Ms Bramwell said there was very little religious opposition to humanist ceremonies in the UK, and insisted that the ceremonies were in no way anti-religion, with time for private prayer often included if the family requested it.
“The ceremonies are completely inclusive, there’s nothing to offend anybody. Quite often a family member is uneasy about it beforehand, and afterwards it’s that person who comes to you to say they found it lovely.
“When they’ve actually experienced it, they appreciate that it’s all about values and love.”