There are over a hundred pastoral rules for clergy who officiate funerals. Following established protocols avoids blunders. Here are a few:
It is customary for the officiating officer to assign pulpit substitutions, even if the senior pastor is present. However, the officiant should never occupy the seat reserved for the pastor unless specifically invited by the pastor.
Regarding attire, if the senior pastor wears a robe, the guest officiant should generally should not. A pastor attending but not officiating should avoid their robe entirely, as the robe is typically reserved for the speaker (Unless every minister present is robed)
Throughout the service, a member of the clergy should remain standing behind the pulpit, especially during the final viewing.
Do what you are asked to do: Preach or Eulogize. Know the difference between a sermon and a eulogy. The Eulogy highlights the deceased’s strengths and life impact through words of praise.
A sermon focuses on lifting up Christ through edification, exhortation, and comfort; the deceased is secondary, but it is important because the life lived exemplifies Christian faith.
Regardless of the format, please keep it short. Your goal is to provide a service of dignity, not win an endurance test.
Don’t showboat because there is a crowd. It is distasteful to audition for future engagements at the expense of the family.
Finally, when visiting the home afterward, be mindful of family dynamics. Not everyone in the family shares your view about alcohol. In fact, many leave the gravesite anxious for liquid consolation, but they want to be respectful to the preacher. Make your home visit short; you will be loved for coming and loved even more for knowing when to leave.
