OT Funeral information

Do officiating preachers usually get paid for their services? Some people say you should pay them. Some say funeral homes must pay them by local ordinance. Who knows? Just asking.

Yes...if you set it up you would be responsible. If the Funeral Home set it up and there was a fee involved, they would or should tell you up front and what the fee is. Depending how well you or the deceased is known by the minister, they may refuse. Offer it any way or make a donation to their building fund in memory of...

Local customns will vary as to whether and how much, but generally, yes.

In the case of a funeral home and a service for someone who was not affiliated with a local church, they usually have a list of clergy who can officiate at services and/or burial. In a lot of those cases, his/her services are billed by the funeral home, but not always.

For a service in a church it is customary to pay both the officiant and any musician. This is usually done with cash enclosed with a card of thanks. It can be delivered by someone from the funeral home, or entrusted to a family friend. It's often done that way, to avoid the appearance of actually paying them as (and maybe that has something to do with your question) some would regard that as crass. Some clergy, as an alternative, will suggest that the family make a contribution to their church.

people who work,, get paid. its right.

They get paid usually. Funeral or wedding (same difference) or whatever, they work to support the church and the lord. A church will always do a service for their members. They won't pass the tray but about any church service involves some donation usually after the fact. Same goes when the church women provide a meal. My church has a suggested donation for a meal depending upon the size. And we've been called on to provide a covered dish for them. All depends upon your relationship with the church. Some suggest leaving memorial donations to the church or other charity.

Same goes for a service at a funeral home. You have a favorite preacher but want the service at the home or gravesite or both, you can get him. He/she would expect some type of honorarium. At my FIL's funeral 12 years ago, I think the going price was about $50 or it may have been a $100. He has gas and expenses too.

Not to say that there aren't a few deadbeats around who would use the church and preacher.

I've never heard of a local ordinace regarding who pays them. Maybe local custom. But the state usually regulates them though. I don't think Missouri requires anything. My BIL buried his grandfather under an oak tree at the farm, no casket, funeral, or anything.

Some people pay a few hundred bucks for cremation and an urn and don't even do a funeral. I know a guy who had his ashes spread by airplane over his farm but he did have a funeral.

Funeral homes have a list of preachers, singers, and organists who they tap on when someone has no preference. They are paid. You can be sure the funeral home tacks something on extra for the set up but they could charge you their going rate.

My wife's uncle died 20 years ago in an out of town hospital. We knew he had the cash from his social security check on him and I inquired at the hospital. 2 nurses remembered counting the money and giving it to security. They couldn't find it in the safe. It took a couple days but they finally traced down the money after I kept after them. That was the side story, the main story was I asked about who picked up the body to see if there were any other bills. Hospital said a funeral home in that city picked him up. I called that funeral home and they said they picked him up and enbalmed him for about $175. They were being paid by the funeral home handling the funeral. The bill came and the embalming fee was $350. I pressed them about it and they said it was their standard fee whether they did it or someone else. Then they tacked on a fee and mileage to go get the body.

Be caerful if a funeral home takes care of the preacher. Our preacher told a story of one funeral home jacking up his fee. Safest way is to hire the preacher yourself.

Larry in Michigan

Around here $100 or more is pretty standard. Actually $100 is pretty cheap.

I am a semi-retired minister. I still do a few weddings and funerals.
I typically just say they can give a donation to the church. That way they can get a statement at the end of the yeah. Some folks deduct from taxes...some don't.
I understand the tax laws are changing...so who knows.
From past exoerience...you are better of if you or a friend know a minster. Most of the FH folks here mark it up if they provide the service.

Yes. Ignoring special circumstances, it is not reasonable to expect a minister to perform a service without compensation.

Dean

The Church where I belong sees a memorial service as a joyous occasion of celebration of the life of the deceased and going home to be with the Lord. It is also always hoped that it can lead to others being saved, especially on the part of the family of the deceased. Therefore we, and members and pastors of other such Bible preaching evangelical churches wouldn't dream of getting paid for such an opportunity. If you are thinking of Catholic or a abundant protestant church then I would think that you should pay them. It certainly is not governed by ordinance or local custom.

I agree that they should be paid for doing this service.
I also know for a fact that if we took a lot of the money out of the game, it would leave the real preachers and men of God in the ministry and the rest would look for another lucrative, partialy cash, tax free business in order to live their lavish lifestyles.

If you have a small town reputable funeral director, he will take care of it so you only have one bill to pay. When my Dad passed away, Tim Greenwood, of Greenwood funeral home in Cherokee Ia. took care of all the extras such as lunch, Minister, vocalists, etc. I guess you need to do business with someone you know and trust.

For a wedding the Church Adminstrator told me to add up the time required and pay about $25 -$50 per hour depending on the area. A 3 hour pay would be about correct counting the service and prepration time.

Slightly OT...when my first wife passed away, the funeral home made the arrangements for the minister of our choice. Unfortunately, our first choice had been called out of town on emergency business. He recommended a retired minister...who turned out to be the same Rev. Underwood who had married us 14-1/2 years before!

You can call that a coincidence, or whaterver you want to...but I firmly believe that the hand of God was involved.

All depends on the local custom and the funeral home or arrangement. I cross a lot of different social and religious groups and there are some differences.

With that said, I would expect to pay around 50.00 each for ministers and musicians.