Attachments
Attachment N
Omega Service Official Protocol
Purpose Omega Service Official Protocol and Procedures
Group Responsible For Updating Omega Service Procedures
The Omega service of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is the ceremony in which all deceased Alpha brothers are transferred into Omega chapter. Omega chapter is the chapter reserved for deceased brothers, and this is consistent with the view that “once an Alpha always an Alpha.” The ceremony is traditionally a public ceremony. Any member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is welcome to attend, as well as the deceased brother’s family, friends and members of the general public. The ceremony may be made “private” based on the wishes of the family of the deceased brother. The decision of the deceased brother’s family must be honored by the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha.
* National Ritual Committee
Since this ceremony is open to the public and it is held in honor of a deceased brother, all brothers must be clad in Alpha attire. The ceremony must be conducted with the dignity and respect accorded to such funeral rites, whether it is public or private. If the deceased brother is an “active” brother, the chaplain of his chapter, where possible, should conduct the service. In any event, an Alpha Phi Alpha brother must conduct the service. There are two forms of the ceremony, a short form and a long form, and the form used will depend on the amount of time allocated by the deceased brother’s family. The ceremony may be conducted prior to, during or after the obsequies for the deceased brother but must not at any time be conducted without the express approval of the deceased brother’s family. On occasion, chapters receive requests from inactive deceased brothers’ families and or friends for Omega services to be conducted. Every effort should be made to comply with such a request, and the chaplain of the chapter closest to the deceased brother’s location should be notified. All brothers in the area should make every effort to support such a request made on behalf of a deceased brother. Finally, it must be noted that an Omega service is an official fraternity function and as such must be conducted in a manner appropriate to such. The general office must be notified of the brother’s initiation into the Omega chapter via attachment U.
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ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC.
Materials/Personnel/Logistics Needed for Omega Service • A copy of the ceremonial handbook of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. • A religious institution as prescribed by the family of the deceased brother General Protocol for Omega Service • Type of ceremony ~ public • Attire ~ Alpha attire Ceremony For Omega Service Ceremonial handbook of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.