End of life pastoral resource

This page offers pastoral resources for those in ministry attending to individuals and their families at the end of someone’s life. “End of life” is a phrase chosen to encompass all forms of death that would not be referred to as natural causes; such as, voluntary assisted dying, suicide, terminal illness, accident.

The initiative for these resources came from the Victorian Government’s decision to legislate for VAD. These resources are for the Church’s ministry in a pastoral context, where VAD has been chosen following the appropriate legislated processes. They are not to suggest an agreement, or otherwise, with the legislation. They simply position the pastoral carer/minister as a non-judgemental pastoral presence offering ministry to those affected.

The pastoral carer/minister should BY LAW NOT BE INVOLVED in the influencing, discernment or decision-making of an individual in these matters.

Further resources (with links) are welcome. Please send through suggestions to nigel.hanscamp@victas.uca.org.au