Funeral Policy

St. John Lutheran Church, Center Point, Iowa 

The Triune God is the creator of body and soul, “And the Lord God formed the man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). Death is the consequence of the fall into sin, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19); “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Jesus Christ, True God, became man to die for our sins, making atonement to the Father on our behalf, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Thus, whoever dies hearing the Word of God and believing in Christ has everlasting life, passes from death into life, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24); but those rejecting the Word of God pass into everlasting torment, “So it was that the beggar [Lazarus] died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:22-23). Finally, all people shall be resurrected in their flesh on the Last Day, the faithful to everlasting life and the wicked to the resurrection of condemnation, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29).

The Christian funeral is no ordinary funeral, for even in the midst of death, the Christian has a sure and lively hope in the Resurrection of the dead, and the Life of the World to come which is his through Christ Jesus. Thus, the funeral service has tones of sorrow over the loss of life, all the while remaining joyful and confident in the death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Return of Christ for those who have died in Him. The focal point of this service is not the one who has died, but the One who has defeated death and has promised to raise us from the dead. St. Paul writes, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus…and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 17b). In this, the Christian finds his life secure in Christ Jesus, even, perhaps especially, in the face of death—that of himself or of his loved ones. Thus, the “theme” of the service is not the deceased’s likes or dislikes, but the Word of God, which comforts and consoles those in attendance of the forgiveness of sins and the sure and certain resurrection from the grave, which the deceased had and still has through his God-given faith in Jesus.

Those desiring to have their funeral service at St. John’s Lutheran Church are advised that:

1. Funerals at St. John’s Lutheran Church, conducted by her clergy, are only for members of St. John’s Lutheran Church, in good standing, who have died in the Christian faith.

a. Except in the case where the deceased was a member in good standing of a church in altar-and-pulpit fellowship with St. John’s Lutheran Church.

i. The deceased was attending St. John’s but retained membership at another LCMS church and has been granted permission by the home Pastor of the deceased and the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church, in consultation with the Board of Lay Ministers.

ii. A former member of St. John’s Lutheran Church who has purchased a plot at a cemetery in or near Marengo and desires his/her funeral to be at St. John’s Lutheran Church and has been granted permission by the home Pastor of the deceased, and the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church, in consultation with the Board of Lay Ministers.

b. Only rostered Pastors who are in altar-and-pulpit fellowship with St. John’s Lutheran Church may participate in funerals conducted at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

i. When St. John’s Lutheran Church has a regularly called Pastor(s), he shall preside at the funeral and preach whenever possible.

ii. In the event that St. John’s Lutheran Church is vacant, either the vacancy Pastor or another rostered Pastor of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod shall conduct the funeral.

iii. If assisting ministers are available for the funeral, only those in altar-and-pulpit fellowship with St. John’s Lutheran Church may participate, and then in the capacity directed by the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

2. A funeral at St. John’s Lutheran Church is in every aspect a worship service of the Church in which we worship our gracious and loving God by proclaiming the Resurrection of the body and the Life everlasting. For that reason, the service itself shall be planned with that in mind.

a. All regular rubrics for a worship service pertain.

b. Funeral Services at St. John’s Lutheran Church shall be conducted with the same reverence and piety as any other public worship service in Christ’s Church.

c. Only the doctrinally approved rite, contained in the hymnal currently in use by the congregation, shall be used, with as little modification as is necessary by the Pastor.

d. Only hymns found in The Lutheran Service Book (LSB), Lutheran Worship (LW), or The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) shall be sung.

i. Such hymns should reflect Christian confidence, trust, and hope in the Resurrection of the body and the Life Everlasting.

ii. All such music is subject to approval by the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

e. Only preludes and postludes approved by the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church in consultation with the organists of St. John’s Lutheran Church shall be played.

i. Any and all preludes, postludes, hymnody, etc., for the funeral service shall either be played on St. John’s Lutheran Church’s organ or pianos.

f. Since it is the duty and responsibility of the called Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church to plan every public worship service that takes place at the church (i.e., the readings, hymns, order of service, banners, etc.), input by the deceased’s family is welcome but is ultimately subject to approval by the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

g. Funeral Directors shall check in with the Pastor(s) prior to the service for instruction.

h. Eulogies are not a Christian practice as they focus on the life of the deceased rather than on Christ’s victory over the grave and the blessed hope of eternal life. Thus, they are inappropriate for a public worship service of the Church, including funerals, and shall not take place during a funeral service at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

i. Remembrances may be spoken either at the visitation or during the luncheon following the service and every accommodation possible, within reason, will be made for music, audio/visual presentations, and/or public speaking at the luncheon.

3. Since it is the duty and responsibility of the Pastor(s) of St. John’s Lutheran Church to maintain reverence and proper decorum in the sanctuary, no personal belongings of the deceased shall be displayed in the sanctuary.

a. However, to accommodate the family during the visitation, room, tables, and flower stands shall be provided in the narthex and/or fellowship hall for displaying pictures and personal memorabilia during the visitation, should the visitation take place at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

b. Only flowers provided by the church or immediate family shall be placed inside the sanctuary and within the chancel, and only on the gradine of the altar.

i. Said flowers shall conform to all appropriate rubrics, including but not limited to not distracting from the altar, not standing taller than the arms of the altar crucifix, and not impeding the movement of the clergy during the service, etc.

4. If the Funeral Service takes place at St. John’s Lutheran Church and the family of the deceased desires to hold a visitation, the visitation shall either take place at the funeral home of the family’s choosing or at St. John’s Lutheran Church. The narthex and/or fellowship hall at St. John’s Lutheran Church is the designated space for a funeral visitation.

a. Any such music played on church grounds shall conform to Policy Section 2.d & 2.e.

5. Rites and ceremonies of secular organizations shall not occur within the funeral service proper, nor the committal service, as they are inappropriate for a public worship service of the Church.

a. If the deceased is a military veteran, the flag of the United States of America may be draped over the casket, in honor of his service, only after the casket has left the church building and after the funeral pall has been removed.

b. The flag may remain upon the casket during the committal rite; however, the Pastor(s) may ask it to be lowered if the ceremony of pouring earth/sand on the casket in the shape of a cross is observed so as to not place earth or sand upon the flag.

6. As the Rite of Christian Burial is a worship service of the Triune God, St. John’s Lutheran Church does not assess any fees to conduct a funeral. While honorariums for clergy are appreciated, they are by no means required. The only set fee is the fee for the organist of St. John Lutheran Church, which is $150.