Cooperation with Clergy

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Bill Stalter

The Saturday edition of the Kansas City Star includes a section titled “Faith” that is devoted to the issues of religion. A few weeks ago, Star reporter Helen Gray wrote two different Faith articles regarding local funeral trends: cremation and one funeral operation’s focus on working closer with churches.

The cremation article offered the observations from both clergy and funeral directors. The clergy acknowledged that cost and a growing social acceptance have contributed to the rise in cremations (which stands in stark contrast to the comment of one corporate spokesman reporting second-hand how nothing has really changed). But, the comments suggest that some clergy (like many funeral directors) are still simply reacting to cremations. (Another Kansas City Star contributor, Bill Tammeus, wrote a piece titled “Cremains of the Day” that touches on the problems clergy have cremation.)

The other article focused on how one local funeral operation has adopted a very proactive approach to working with area churches. By operating without a “home”, this funeral operation has lower overhead, and can provide lower costing services to churches. The operation’s success would seem to be putting more emphasis on working in tandem with the minister, and less emphasis on directing the funeral.
 

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The Evolution of the Christian Burial: Church Columbariums

Posted on March 5, 2008 by Bill Stalter

Cremation is having a profound impact on funeral homes, cemeteries and churches alike. While Christian denominations prefer to reinforce the role the body plays in funeral liturgy, cremation offers churches the opportunity to establish a bond with parishioners that cemeteries once provided. It is becoming fairly commonplace to read about churches, like the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado, that are considering whether to establish their own columbarium. 

However, there are a number of issues churches need to evaluate before making the decision about a columbarium. The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has an excellent article on its website, Better than a Cemetery: A Presbyterian church offers an alternative, that describes the approach taken by the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. 

A columbarium requires more of a commitment then some church leaders may initially understand. However, this article accurately conveys the planning and preparation that should be invested in the process.  Once a church makes the decision to establish a columbarium, it will need to address many of the same legal issues that face a cemetery, including the following:

  • Rules that will govern the columbarium, and that will allow the church flexibility with regard to future issues;
  • Contracts that define the niche owner's rights;
  • Endowed care trust requirements;
  • Applicability of state laws; and
  • Future sales.    
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