Does a Service Have to Be Performed By a Minister?

Minister Performing Services

For centuries, communities have looked to their religious leaders to perform funeral services for their loved ones. But things have changed in recent decades, and people now look for other options. What if someone doesn’t have a minister available to perform the service, who else can they ask to do it?

The person that takes the lead during the funeral service has to work with the family of the deceased to develop a program for the funeral, including writing and delivering a eulogy.

Who Can Perform a Funeral Service?

In essence, anyone can conduct a funeral service. There are many options to choose from when you’re looking for someone to officiate your loved one’s funeral, or if you’re pre-planning your funeral. Whoever performs a funeral service will depend on religious beliefs, personal preference, and other aspects. In most cases, these are the qualified people to perform a funeral service.

Religious Leader

The person most families choose to lead their funeral service is usually someone from their congregation or local church. It’s also possible that the funeral home can recommend someone from your faith if you don’t know someone in the area. When considering the death of a loved one, a religious leader can help others get spiritual peace during a particularly troubling period.

Family Members

A close relative likely has the most knowledge about the deceased, from their childhood up through their adult years, so it makes sense that they would be able to perform an informative and caring eulogy.

Close Friends

One of the deceased’s close friends will have a perspective even some family members don’t have, and they’ll be able to help the family understand how much their relative was loved outside of the family.

Ordained Ministers without a Religious Affiliation

Perhaps the deceased wasn’t a religious person, or the family decides not to have a religious funeral service. They can choose to have someone with no religious affiliation perform the eulogy, keeping it mostly a discussion about their life and how they affected others.

Funeral Directors

Legally, funeral directors are allowed to perform a ministers job, including planning the funeral. While funeral directors are not required to officiate a funeral service, they can do if they wanted to. Check with your funeral director to see if he/she might be interested in performing the funeral services.

What’s the Role of a Funeral Minister?

A funeral minister’s job looks similar to a funeral director’s job. However, in essence, a minister helps family members write and present a eulogy for their loved one. Depending on the family’s faith, they may choose to have a religious minister perform the ceremony. While you don’t need a license to conduct a funeral, you probably will be asked to be legally ordained if you want to become a funeral minister.

How to Get Ordained?

Performing a funeral requires high levels of sensitivity and compassion for the family and friends. While family members and friends can perform funeral services, some families still look for an ordained minister to perform the service.

Getting Ordained Online

Today, many online sites offer the opportunity of becoming an ordained minister from the Universal Life Church, which gives you the legal authority to preside over funerals, officiate weddings, and even perform baptisms. The Universal Life Church offers free, convenient, and valid methods to become ordained legally online.

Do you need help choosing someone to perform the funeral service for a lost loved one or friend? Talk to the people at The Gardens of Boca Raton Cemetery & Funeral Services or the Boca Raton Funeral Home. They have performed hundreds of services at funerals in South Florida and currently serve Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties. You can visit The Gardens offices in Boca Raton, or call them at (561) 989-9190.