On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Grand Valley State University hosted a panel titled, “What Happens When You Die?” sponsored by the Kaufman Interfaith Institute in partnership with Making Choices Michigan, a registered non-profit organization devoted to changing the narrative about healthcare decision-making, including at the end of life.

The panel, held for the first time ever at GVSU, took place at the Pew Campus’ Eberhard Center in downtown Grand Rapids and discussed what happens when you die, exploring the beliefs and practices of faith traditions that inform end-of-life care. 

“As the traditions represented in each of these panels have specific practices that accompany one’s end of life, we are excited to offer this event to elevate what specific type of care is required or expected as persons of these faiths near end of life and after they pass away,” said Program Manager at Kaufman Interfaith Institute Kyle Kooyers. 

The panel represented the faiths of Judaism, Islam, Baha’i and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. There will be a second panel exploring the same question on Tuesday, Oct. 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. representing the faiths of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. 

Audiences should anticipate learning about the expectations their traditions hold around caring for a person as they’re preparing for death. 

“More and more, we have been hearing from health care providers and hospice agencies that they often operate out of an assumed ‘Christian norm’ or simply didn’t know what in terms of care these different faith communities look for at end of life,” Kooyers said. “We are eager to offer a space for this type of learning in order that they may better serve their diverse clientele.”

The Kaufman Interfaith Institute is committed to facilitating mutual respect and greater interfaith understanding in west Michigan and beyond through community and campus programming, according to their Facebook page. 

In order to serve a diverse and vibrant community well, students going into healthcare, social work, counseling, etc. must be ready to understand and respect faiths different than their own when working with peoples’ needs and requirements as they prepare for the end of their lives. 

“When it comes to professional care for individuals nearing death, the concern is not so much with theological contradiction or disagreement, but more to do with upholding the human dignity of the person and that person’s family as they pass away,” Kooyers said.  

The panel coming up on Tuesday is free and open to all faculty, staff, students and the public.