Baptism, Death, and Funerals

From Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon, Holy Spirit:

Stanley is a communicant in a congregation whose baptistery is in the form of a large cross making possible baptism by immersion. …

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Stanley’s church has determined that when a member of the congregation dies, the body is brought to the church the day before the funeral and the coffin is placed on the baptistery. Members of the church then stay with the body through the day and night before the funeral. This liturgical action gives concrete expression to their conviction that death has not defeated us. Even as God brought us through the waters of baptism to life in Christ, so shall we be brought through the waters of death. Through the Spirit we have been made part of God’s end time.