Expert: Dean Gade - 8/3/2009

Question
Hello
When did clergy begin officiating at funerals?
Thanks

regards
mac

Answer
This is outside my expertise.

But I believe it just sort of grew like a barnacle on the side of the "ship" of the church.    But I wanted to let you know that I'm sorry it became such a large tradition in the church.  I believe it has become detrimental in the association and misuse. Too many funeral services are held for families of the deceased who are not willing to know the LIFE which we have been given in our savior and the church is thereby connected to death instead.

This is just an opinion and only based on my personal experience after officiating at almost 200 funerals while a parish pastor.  There can and should be some very good work accomplished in church funerals for those who seek solace from the Lord in their loss.  Even Jesus wept at the loss of Lazarus.

1 Th 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
NIV