Churches have been an integral part of funeral services for centuries. Religion is a huge influencer in the type of disposition and funeral services that are chosen.
However, in many ways the church’s role has been minimized in the modern funeral industry. A large percentage of Americans are choosing direct cremation and skipping funeral services all together. Often this isn’t a choice based on religious belief alone but also finances and logistical factors.
The Funeral Service Controversy in Plano, TX
At the end of March Texas Governor Greg Abbot made headlines for shutting down funeral services at a mosque in Plano. The reason behind the shutdown was licensing infractions.
There’s an ongoing investigation into whether the East Plano Islamic Center’s (EPIC) mosque was providing funeral services on its own without proper state licensing. A caveat is that the mosque supposedly had a contract with a local funeral home to provide funeral services, but now that is in question.
Time will tell how the controversy plays out, but it has brought up an interesting topic for Texas residents to consider – whether a church can provide funeral services.
Can a Church Provide Funeral Services in Texas?
It seems like a silly question to ask given how many funerals occur at churches, particularly for traditional burials, and the fact that for a long time the church was the primary facilitator of funeral services. However, today’s funeral services include more than the chapel viewing that happens with loved ones in attendance.
The long and short of it is that a church can take part in funeral services in Texas. However, their participation is limited to:
- Acting as the venue for funeral services and/or reception.
- A pastor, priest or church official officiating the funeral services.
- Pastoral support and counseling for grieving family members.
- Corresponding with funeral homes to set up transportation to and from the church and making other logistical arrangements.
It’s not clear what funeral services the East Plano Islamic Center mosque was providing, since few details were released, but it would be something outside of the services listed above. It was specifically noted that the mosque wasn’t licensed to provide funeral services suggesting that it was performing regulated services.
Another factor is that the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) sent the mosque a cease and desist letter and referred the case to the Collin County District Attorney. That would further suggest licensing violations since the Commission oversees such issues in the state.
In response, EPIC has maintained that its mosque did not violate any laws and that they are happy to clarify matters with officials. How it all plays out is certainly of interest for anyone within the Texas funeral industry. Cases like these can help bring clarity to existing laws and even be the catalyst for legal changes.
Services Only a Licensed Funeral Home Can Provide in Texas
All this brings up the point that there’s some grey area and overlap in funeral services. But for safety reasons, the state wants to be very clear on which services require a license and that violators will be shut down. Licensing is important because it’s crucial in helping the Texas Funeral Service Commission enforce regulations and ensure funeral homes are following safety protocols.
You must have a license from the TFSC to:
- Operate a funeral home establishment.
- Perform funeral director services.
- Perform any type of embalming service.
- See prepaid funeral contracts.
There are also separate licenses, requirements and regulations for crematoriums and cemeteries. Essentially, if you are handling any part of the disposition, a license is required.
Ensuring that funeral service providers are licensed by the state is extremely important for everyone involved. Most of all, it’s a consumer protection that helps safeguard people from unfair and predatory practices. A license ensures there’s some sort of oversight for the funeral home and how it’s operating.
When Texans Choose Home Funeral Services
Further confounding things is that in Texas families can conduct the funeral services themselves. They can opt for a home funeral in which the family maintains possession of the body and host funeral services at a private property. A family can even have a natural burial on their own property in Texas.
However, there are still limitations. Family members still can’t perform any sort of embalming. Cremation of any kind also requires a special license. These limitations exist for both personal safety and public safety reasons. If you plan to use embalming or cremation, always make sure the service provider is licensed with the state.
What to Ask If a Church Will Be Part of the Funeral Services
If you plan to have a church involved with the funeral services there are some special considerations that have to be factored in during the planning process. To ensure the funeral services follow regulations and meet your expectations, ask church officials:
- How do you communicate and correspond with funeral homes?
- Are there special procedures or policies that you follow?
- Do you have membership criteria for funeral services?
- What part of the funeral services are handled solely by the church?
- Who is the point of contact at the church for funeral services?
- Are there any fees associated with holding funeral services at the church?
If you are pre-arranging a funeral these are important questions to ask service providers and to document as well. Also, be sure to ask funeral homes similar questions. The church and funeral home you choose need to be in sync so that the funeral services are stress-free for the family.
Cremation.Green is a licensed funeral service provider in the state of Texas that can answer all of your questions regarding how funeral services are provided. Give us a call, text or email for further assistance!