Celebrant or Clergy Member: Which One Should You Choose?

By: Tom Gallagher
Monday, July 24, 2017

The master of ceremonies at a funeral is called an officiant. They conduct the ceremony, carry out the associated rituals, and offer comfort to the grieving family. Different people have different requirements when it comes to officiants and they have a choice between a clergy member or a celebrant. Here are some tips to help you make that choice:

Why Choose a Clergy Member?

This is the most common choice because the process and the officiant are familiar. Most people choose a clergy member even if they’re not religious or belong to a particular religious institution. These officiants are a good choice if the points mentioned below are applicable to you:

  • The decedent was a religious person and would have preferred a religious ceremony.
  • Family members and loved ones find comfort in religious rituals and ceremonies.
  • You want a quick, easy, and familiar service and don’t need much personalization.

Services performed by the clergy member will always be dictated by the rules and regulations of the religious establishment.

Why Choose a Celebrant?

A celebrant is a licensed officiant with authority to conduct services like weddings and funerals. They don’t belong to any religious establishment and can customize the service according to your requirements. They’re a good choice if:

  • You want a personalized funeral service that’s not restricted by the structure dictated by the religious institution.
  • All family and guests aren’t religious or want a neutral ceremony that doesn’t favor a single religious denomination.
  • The decedent didn’t want a religious ceremony.

Celebrants can create a ceremony according to your wishes and personalize it to suit the decedent’s traits and preferences.

If you want to know more about funerals or want to plan one, don’t hesitate to call us at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home for more information. 

Leave a comment
Name*:
Email:
Comment*:
Please enter the numbers and letters you see in the image. Note that the case of the letters entered matters.

Comments

Please wait

Previous Posts

Ways To Personalize Your Loved One's Gravesite

The gravesite of a loved one can serve as a place for reflection, remembrance, and honoring their memory. When you personalize your loved one’s gravesite, the spot can become even more special and ...

Can I Rent A Casket For A Ceremony/Gathering Before Cremation?

At Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, we know that planning a funeral or memorial service for a loved one can be emotionally challenging, and the decisions surrounding the disposition of the body ca...

Can I Still Have A Gathering/Visitation/Service If I Choose Cremation?

Although the concept of cremation may be novel to some, the practice has a long and storied history. Many cremation urns of different types have been discovered in ancient tombs. Those who don't wa...

Can I Scatter Cremated Remains On My Own Property?

Many people turn to Greenwich CT Funeral Homes, like Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, for pre-planning or cremation services. When a family decides to cremate a loved one, one of their primary con...

Where Can I Scatter Cremated Remains?

One of the most common concerns expressed by families that cremate a loved one is what they will do with the ashes. Scattering cremated remains in a meaningful site is a common practice, although i...

Do I Have To Use A Burial Vault For Burial?

Many people who have lost a loved one choose to have their ashes interred. While families plan and organize everything else, we at Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home have found that many people do no...

Special Ways To Remember A Loved One During The Holiday Season

Loved ones play a significant role in and shape every component of our lives. Humans are social creatures who form strong bonds with one another and suffer greatly when those bonds are lost. For th...

Is Live Streaming The Future Of Funeral Services?

We can now use modern communication mediums in a variety of ways. While children are attending school online, parents can work from home too. This gives us time and allows us to communicate with lo...

Coping With The Loss Of A Stillborn Birth Or SDS Child

The loss of a stillborn child or experiencing a stillbirth is a traumatic and devastating experience. In the coming days, weeks, and months, you could experience an overwhelming sense of shock...

How Can I Find Out About The Price Of Low Cost Funerals?

A common misconception about funerals is that the higher the price tag, the more cherished the deceased were by their loved ones in life. However, this isn’t the case. Low cost funerals could ...