1. PURPOSE OF THE POLICY

This policy provides biblical, pastoral, and procedural guidance for the conduct of funeral and burial services under the auspices of Evangelical Faith Church, ensuring that such services:

  • Honour God

  • Affirm the hope of resurrection in Christ

  • Comfort the bereaved

  • Uphold the doctrine, order, and witness of the Church

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
— Matthew 5:4

2. BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION

2.1 The Church recognises death as a consequence of the Fall (Romans 5:12), yet affirms victory over death through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54–57).

2.2 Christian burial services shall proclaim:

  • The sovereignty of God over life and death (Job 1:21)

  • The hope of resurrection (John 11:25–26)

  • Comfort through the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

2.3 Funeral services are acts of worship, witness, and pastoral care, not merely cultural or social events.

3. SCOPE OF THE POLICY

This policy applies to:

  • Funeral services conducted on church premises

  • Burial or graveside services conducted by church ministers

  • Memorial services organised by or through the Church

  • Church involvement in funeral rites of members and, where approved, non-members

4. ELIGIBILITY FOR CHURCH-CONDUCTED BURIALS

4.1 Church Members

The Church shall conduct funeral and burial services for:

  • Members in good standing

  • Members under pastoral care at the time of death

4.2 Non-Members

The Church may conduct funeral services for non-members where:

  • The deceased or immediate family formally requests church involvement

  • There is no doctrinal or moral contradiction to Christian worship

  • Approval is granted by the Pastor or Elders Council

The Church reserves the right to decline requests inconsistent with Christian doctrine.

5. AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT

5.1 All funeral and burial services conducted under the Church’s name are subject to the oversight of the Elders Council.

5.2 The officiating minister(s) shall be:

  • Ordained or authorised ministers of the Church, or

  • Approved guest ministers, with consent of the Elders Council

“Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:40

6. CONDUCT OF FUNERAL SERVICES

6.1 Nature of the Service

Funeral services shall:

  • Be distinctly Christian in content and tone

  • Include Scripture reading, prayer, and proclamation of the Gospel

  • Emphasise hope, comfort, and eternal life in Christ

6.2 Order of Service

A typical funeral service may include:

  • Opening prayer

  • Scripture readings

  • Hymns or Christian songs

  • Tribute(s) (subject to moderation)

  • Sermon or exhortation

  • Closing prayers and benediction

The officiating minister retains final authority over the order of service.

7. MUSIC, TRIBUTES, AND PRESENTATIONS

7.1 Music performed during church funeral services must:

  • Be Christian in content or appropriate to a worship context

  • Uphold the dignity of the service

7.2 Tributes and eulogies:

  • Shall be respectful, truthful, and modest in length

  • Must not contradict Christian teaching or glorify sin

  • May be reviewed in advance by the officiating minister

7.3 Political speeches, fundraising appeals, or non-Christian rituals are not permitted during church funeral services.

8. BURIAL AND GRAVESIDE SERVICES

8.1 Where requested, the Church may conduct:

  • Graveside prayers

  • Committal services

8.2 Graveside services shall:

  • Be brief, reverent, and scriptural

  • Affirm Christian hope and resurrection

“The body is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:43

9. CULTURAL PRACTICES

9.1 The Church recognises and respects cultural burial practices, provided such practices:

  • Do not conflict with Scripture

  • Do not involve idolatry, ancestor worship, or superstition

9.2 Practices inconsistent with Christian faith shall not be conducted:

  • On church premises, or

  • Under the leadership of church ministers

10. CHURCH FACILITIES AND LOGISTICS

10.1 Use of church premises for funeral services is subject to:

  • Availability

  • Scheduling approval

  • Compliance with church facility policies

10.2 The family is responsible for:

  • External arrangements (e.g. mortuary, cemetery, transportation)

  • Any applicable facility or service fees, unless waived by the Church

11. FEES AND FINANCIAL MATTERS

11.1 The Church does not sell funeral services.

11.2 Any fees charged shall relate only to:

  • Facility use

  • Equipment

  • Administrative or logistical costs

11.3 Ministers shall not demand or negotiate personal fees for officiating.

Freewill offerings or honoraria may be given voluntarily.

“Freely you have received; freely give.” — Matthew 10:8

12. PASTORAL CARE FOR THE BEREAVED

12.1 The Church commits to providing:

  • Pastoral visits

  • Prayer and counselling

  • Ongoing spiritual support

12.2 The Elders Council may assign a minister or elder to accompany the family during the bereavement period.

13. EXCEPTIONS AND DISPUTES

13.1 Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Elders Council.

13.2 Disputes relating to funeral arrangements shall be handled:

  • With pastoral sensitivity

  • In accordance with church governance structures

14. AMENDMENT OF THIS POLICY

This policy may be amended by:

  • The Urgent Mission Council, and

  • Elders Council and Congregational approval where required by the Church Constitution

All amendments must remain consistent with Scripture.

15. CONCLUSION

The Church conducts burial services as a sacred trust—to honour God, comfort the grieving, and proclaim the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”
— John 11:25