Weddings and Other Occasions
Life is full of many milestones…some are cause for celebration, others, for sorrow. It is only natural that we join together to applaud, commemorate, support, or sustain loved ones during these transitional times.
The Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island supports the community by conducting weddings, funerals, memorials, baby namings, coming of age ceremonies, or any meaningful occasion where you would like the sensitivity and experience of licensed and trained clergy or ethical humanist officiants to lead the event.
Weddings: Part of our involvement in community is to provide ordained officiants for weddings for couples who do not wish to marry in a traditional religious setting. An Ethical Humanist wedding is sensitive to the personalities, values and wishes of the couple. Our humanist officiants will provide a meaningful and joyful day. We also do not discriminate against same-sex couples who wish to have a celebration of their commitment. We also help multi-faith couples have a ceremony that reflects their common spiritual values. Calvin Dame, David Harmon, and Arthur Dobrin available to conduct weddings.
Memorials and funerals: The goal of every memorial or funeral is to have the person remembered in as many ways as possible and to tailor every service to the needs of the family. This is accomplished by meeting with family members in order to help ‘know” and understand the deceased. The service itself is participatory and family and friends are encouraged to share memories of the deceased. Calvin Dame, Joan Beder, and David Harmon are available to conduct funerals.
Meet Our Officiants:
Calvin Dame, M.Div., is the Humanist Religion Director of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island. He is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, and has extensive experience conducting wedding, commitment ceremonies and memorial services. He has worked with couples and families uncomfortable with traditional religious belief or with multi-faith backgrounds to create ceremonies that are honest, dignified and meaningful.
Joan Beder, D.S.W., is professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University and author of Voices of Bereavement: A Casebook for Grief Counselors. She has spoken at numerous conferences on issues related to bereavement and the death and dying experience.
David Harmon, Ph.D. is certified as an Assistant Leader for Adjunct Services by the American Ethical Union. The AEU, through its Leadership training, grants authority to perform wedding ceremonies in accordance with New York State laws. Dr. Harmon, a psychologist has recently retired as Director of the St. John’s University Counseling Center.
Arthur Dobrin, Ph.D., is the Leader Emeritus of the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island, certified by the American Ethical Union to perform marriage ceremonies. Dr. Dobrin is a Humanities professor at Hofstra University, where he teaches courses on ethics. He is the author of more that 20 books and is a founding member, along with his wife Lyn, of Amnesty International USA Group #74.
