When my pastor friends were looking for ways to integrate lament into their services after the release of the video of McDonald’s shooting, we emphasized treating services like funerals. This proactively prepares the congregation to let go of the temptation so common in the dominant culture: to go on the hunt for immediate resolutions to the problem of racism—a temptation that can be difficult to curb. The imagery of a funeral creates much-needed boundaries, as no one would attend the funeral of a friend and then try to rally a group for an immediate problem-solving session.
