A Pastor's Guide to Conducting a Funeral: Things Every Pastor Needs to Know, but May Have Been Afraid to Ask

By Greg F. Jackson

A Pastors Guide to Conducting a Funeral: Things Every Pastor Needs to Know, But May Have Been Afraid to Ask gives pastors, chaplains, and other caregivers clear and concise guidance for responding to the profound needs of people facing the deaths of loved ones. It is a tool that every ministry student and pastor can benefit from.

Dr. Gregory F. Jackson, senior pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Camden, Ohio, has shared over two hundred funerals with the people of his rural community during the past seventeen years. These experiences shape the books research and guide its practical and timely advice.

Young pastors may wonder, What should I say and do at the funeral home or at the grave? What will help families face their losses with faith and trust in God? Older pastors might ask, How can I refresh my ministry at the time of death? No matter what stage of ministry you find yourself in, this book can be your companion. It can help you when you are uncertain about the best approach to a familys grief or when you need insight into to a familys special needs.

This is a book that every pastor needs to read. Each chapter includes results of surveys of pastors and funeral directors and ends with a short list of insights pastors need to know to serve more compassionately and effectively. As an added bonus, the book concludes with A Bakers Dozen of Funeral Director Nuggets, sharing the most important tips funeral directors wished pastors knew about how to lead thoughtful funeral services with dignity.

My friend Greg Jackson has given every pastor not only a guide for conducting funerals, but a gift! His personal and practical insights will assist us in ministering to the hurting. THIS is a winner!

Dr. Ernest L.
Easley, Senior Pastor
Roswell Street Baptist Church
Marietta, Georgia

Conducting A Funeral is a must read for every pastor. Pastor Greg Jackson offers so many helpful tips on how a pastor can effectively and intentionally minister to families who are dealing with death. I believe you will also find, as I did, the chapter on the importance of the pastors relationship with a funeral director to be especially helpful. As important as this moment of ministry is in the lives of those trying to make sense of the painful reality of death, it is vital that every pastor be prepared. This book is very well written and will assist both the novice as well as the experienced pastor in maximizing their effectiveness in ministry. I recommend you read it.

Dr. Michael Landry , Senior Pastor, Sarasota Baptist Church

Thank you Greg!!! Your honesty, compassion, and obvious wisdom as a Senior Pastor at the same church for an extended number of years comes through on every page! Funerals and death are always a challenge, even for the most seasoned pastor. Thus, I whole-heartedly recommend this book for any person in ministry, especially if you are just starting out!

Dr. David Wheeler, Associate Director of Ministry Training Center,
Professor of Evangelism Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490887326

Greg F. Jackson

After preaching more than two hundred funeral sermons in seventeen years, Dr. Gregory F. Jackson offers seasoned advice and focused research in A Pastor’s Guide to Conducting a Funeral. He serves as senior pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Camden, Ohio, a rural community. He is married to Renee, and they have two children, Drew and Stacy. They also are enjoying their first grandchild.

Book preview

My friend Greg Jackson has given every pastor not only a guide for conducting funerals, but a gift! His personal and practical insights will assist us in ministering to the hurting. THIS is a winner!

Dr. Ernest L. Easley, Senior Pastor

Roswell Street Baptist Church

Marietta, Georgia

Conducting A Funeral is a must read for every pastor. Pastor Greg Jackson offers so many helpful tips on how a pastor can effectively and intentionally minister to families who are dealing with death. I believe you will also find, as I did, the chapter on the importance of the pastor’s relationship with a funeral director to be especially helpful. As important as this moment of ministry is in the lives of those trying to make sense of the painful reality of death, it is vital that every pastor be prepared. This book is very well written and will assist both the novice as well as the experienced pastor in maximizing their effectiveness in ministry. I recommend you read it.

Dr. Michael Landry, Senior Pastor

Sarasota Baptist Church

Thank you Greg!!! Your honesty, compassion, and obvious wisdom as a Senior Pastor at the same church for an extended number of years comes through on every page! Funerals and death are always a challenge, even for the most seasoned pastor. Thus, I whole-heartedly recommend this book for any person in ministry, especially if you are just starting out!

Dr. David Wheeler

Associate Director of Ministry Training Center

Professor of Evangelism Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary

A PASTOR’S GUIDE TO

CONDUCTING A FUNERAL

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Things Every Pastor Needs To Know, But

May Have Been Afraid To Ask

GREG F. JACKSON

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Copyright © 2015 Greg F. Jackson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture used is from the New King James Version of the Bible

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8731-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8732-6 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 08/21/2015

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Chapter 1     The Call

Chapter 2     Convenience And The Ministry

Chapter 3     Caring For Your Community

Chapter 4     Communication Is Critical

Chapter 5     Consultation With The Family

Chapter 6     The Pastor’s Conduct

Chapter 7     The Ceremony And The Sermon

Chapter 8     The Casket And Grief

Chapter 9     The Cemetery And Celebration

Chapter 10     Follow-Up Care

Conclusion

A Baker’s Dozen Of Funeral Director Nuggets

Survey Results

End Notes

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This project would not have been completed, had it not been for the support of a wonderful family. Mom and Dad, you have shown me Christ with servant’s hearts. Thank you for unconditional love and support. Sheila, you are my Barnabas. Renee, you are a great wife. While many try to define the perfect pastor’s wife, I see Christ in you every day. I love you and thank you for walking beside me in this journey called ministry. Drew and Stacy, know that you are a blessing to your dad, and that I love you. You make me proud.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4 (NKJV)

To my wonderful church family at the First Southern Baptist Church of Camden, thank you for letting me be your pastor. This book contains the lessons that I have learned while walking with you through the valley of loss.

I dedicate this project to two of my preaching heroes and mentors. Bro. Joe Baker, who is retired, yet continues to serve and preach in Arkansas, and Bro. Charles Betts, who preached until God wanted him in heaven. The former was my pastor when I invited Christ into my life, and the latter was there for me when I surrendered to preach. I will be forever grateful for the investment they have made in me.

My prayer is that in some small way, I can pass on to others, some things that God has taught me along the way.

Greg F. Jackson

PREFACE

Based on nearly seventeen years as the pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Camden, a rural community in southwest Ohio, and after preaching over two hundred funeral sermons, my Doctor of Ministry Project is to develop a A Pastor’s Guide for Conducting a Funeral. Things every new pastor needs to know, but may have been afraid to ask. My goal is to encourage and prepare young and new pastors in this critical aspect of ministry.

The pastors surveyed average 25.2 years in ministry and 12.6 years at their present church. The funeral directors surveyed average 27.85 years in the business. 77% of the pastors surveyed, conduct