Funeral denied
 

A distant friend of mine recently passed away after a brief bout with cancer. She attended sparingly the church I grew up in. Her mother has been a member of said church for over 40 years. The pastor denied the request for funeral service to be held at the church. His reason was the deceased was not a member in good standing! I have never heard of this happening! And personally I think it's a sorry act as a human much less as someone who is a pastor!! Any opinions out there??!

Re: Funeral denied
 

Sounds absurd.

Glad he is not my Pastor

Re: Funeral denied
 

A friend of mine attends a UPC church and did so prior to moving to her current state. When her father, who was Roman Catholic, recently passed away, there was nobody Catholic to perform services, as he didn't attend anything but Latin mass church services. His wife attends an AOG church but the pastor refused to do the service, even though he offered to have the service at his church.

My friend called her former UPC pastor, who lives about 4 hours from where her dad lived and told him the situation. He didn't hesitate to answer the need to perform the service. Him and his wife, who had been very sick and hospitalized almost all summer, both came and were hospitable.

Her mother's pastor, who did attend the funeral service but not the graveside service (which was an additional hour away that the UPC pastor also attended, even though it was further west), wasn't cordial at all. He spoke to her mother but addressed nobody else nor did he ask about any of the other family present.

It's an act of compassion I will never forget, and I'm sure she won't either. Her mother was so honored as well.

Re: Funeral denied
 

Hopefully his church will shrink after this.

Re: Funeral denied
 

I don't understand why apostolics feel the need to have a 'preacher conduct funeral services' to begin with.

Maybe it's cause I'm Irish-American and have a certain affinity for the wake as opposed to the funeral. I dunno?

Re: Funeral denied
 

i think its because you are Irish and dont like to do what everybody else thinks folks ought to do.
LOL!

Re: Funeral denied
 

I pastor a church....and to be honest with you our building is not a public venue that is up for rent or use by the community. We dont rent it out or let folks use it for weddings, services, funerals, or anything for that matter. It is for church use and church use only. The only weddings, funerals or whatever that are allowed there are of folks that are members.

I am sorry if folks dont like that but it is too bad. I learned a long time ago that if you let it be used for all kinds of things, all kinds of things will go on in it. It is not a funeral home, a wedding chapel, or a rental hall.....it is an Apostolic, Pentecostal Oneness church and that is what it is going to be used for.

Now as far as the situation that was mentioned here, since I dont know all the facts....and there are always other sides to a story...I am not willing to pass judgment on this mans humanity or his pastoring.

Re: Funeral denied
 

I want to always be kind...go the second mile....bless the living and bury the dead.

Re: Funeral denied
 

AMEN!!!

People are very sensitive at funerals And if any kindness can be shown, it should be done, in the name of Jesus.

Re: Funeral denied
 

I think it is definitely a hardline position to take. But it is within the pastor's authority to make such a decision.