Burying the dead is one of the corporal acts of mercy so I need some help understanding this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Catholics and non-denominational protestants have different beliefs about funerals and burying the dead.

Your relative's church is probably not available for free for non-members. A non-denominational church (and the pastor) are not subsidized by a central hierarchy like the catholic church is. We had my grandmother's funeral service at a non-denominational church (she was not a member of a church). We were expected to make a significant donation to the church in exchange for the church facility and pastor's services.

The Catholic “central hierarchy” is subsidized by the parishes, not vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Catholics and non-denominational protestants have different beliefs about funerals and burying the dead.

Your relative's church is probably not available for free for non-members. A non-denominational church (and the pastor) are not subsidized by a central hierarchy like the catholic church is. We had my grandmother's funeral service at a non-denominational church (she was not a member of a church). We were expected to make a significant donation to the church in exchange for the church facility and pastor's services.

+1 “Baseball may be a religion full of magic, cosmic truth, and the fundamental ontological riddles of our time, but it's also a job.”

[Anonymous]

op, have you thought that the church members, who donate to the upkeep of the church they are members of, would wonder why a non- member of the church, and a relative of the pastor would get a free service?

The pastor would give his relatives a free service? Sounds like he would be using the church for his relatives and that would be against the rules. The pastor should not give his relatives free stuff just because they are related to him.

[Anonymous]

Services are held with cremains, not with bodies which are then cremated. You are making this more difficult and expensive than necessary.

[Anonymous]

Don’t all places where religious services/meetings take place ask for a donation when the facility is used for a funeral or wedding? It costs money to light and heat the building, possibly provide music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t all places where religious services/meetings take place ask for a donation when the facility is used for a funeral or wedding? It costs money to light and heat the building, possibly provide music.

And someone to play the piano or organ; or someone to put together music. Some ushers. Someone to design and print a memorial booklet with a small bio of the deceased’s life and an order to the service. Flowers. It sounds like she expected the church to transport the casket. Do churches own hearses?

Op is pretending that people get free funerals and free everything and expects it because a family member is a pastor. Ugh.

Op wants all this at a relative’s church for free. Hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the deceased a member of the congregation, or even of the denomination?

Non-denominational church. The deceased was not a member of the congregation.

Most religious communities willingly do this final service for the deceased relatives of congregants and clergy, even if they are unable to accommodate unaffiliated people. My own community (which is three hours away from the deceased) does this all the time for congregants and clergy. And when my ex husband died, his service and burial was by a religious community with whom we had zero prior connection.

What religious community gave your ex a free service and burial? Why don’t you ask them to do the same for this relative? Also tell us so we can have outr families buried for free. Awesome!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was the deceased a member of the congregation, or even of the denomination?

Non-denominational church. The deceased was not a member of the congregation.

Most religious communities willingly do this final service for the deceased relatives of congregants and clergy, even if they are unable to accommodate unaffiliated people. My own community (which is three hours away from the deceased) does this all the time for congregants and clergy. And when my ex husband died, his service and burial was by a religious community with whom we had zero prior connection.

What religious community gave your ex a free service and burial? Why don’t you ask them to do the same for this relative? Also tell us so we can have outr families buried for free. Awesome!!

Every Catholic is entitled to a funeral Mass.

Every Jew is entitled to a Jewish burial.

These communities donate their services and goods because funerals of their faithful are deeply sacred to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go online, get ordained, hold the service at your house or the mountains, or a field.

I’m not looking for a solution, but a way of understanding how a minister reconciles their refusal to assist with the belief that we are called to bury the dead.

Burying and running a service are two totally different things.

Honestly, the fact that you expect this done for free is somewhat shocking. Just because this person is a minister does not mean that every ministerial act he performs will be free.