Evangelical and Pentecostal Funeral Traditions: What to Expect

Evangelical and Pentecostal churches are a large part of American Christianity, and their funerals vary as much as the congregations do. This guide is for guests, friends, coworkers, and professionals, and for families planning a service. It describes common practice and is not a rule for every church. For the wider Protestant picture, see Protestant Funeral Traditions.

Who is this guide about?

Evangelical describes Christians who emphasize the Bible and personal faith in Jesus Christ. Baptists, the Church of the Nazarene, Evangelical Free churches, and most non-denominational churches are evangelical in focus, according to the Selected Independent Funeral Homes association. Pentecostals, who emphasize the Holy Spirit and include the Assemblies of God, are part of the same broad tradition: Pew Research Center’s 2023 to 2024 survey found that about 3 percent of U.S. adults identify as Pentecostals in the evangelical tradition. FuneralWise notes there are more than 700 denominations that identify with Pentecostal beliefs, so practice differs a great deal from one church to the next.

What shapes an evangelical or Pentecostal funeral?

The funeral is a worship service and an expression of hope, usually centered on the Bible and the person’s faith in Christ. Selected Independent Funeral Homes describes a typical evangelical funeral for a lifelong Southern Baptist woman: an evening visitation at the funeral home, a simple service of about 25 minutes in the chapel, songs and scripture she had chosen herself, and a pastor who spoke about her faith. The association notes that evangelical pastors typically support whatever the family wants. FuneralWise says Baptist funerals vary by community: for some the funeral is a joyous celebration, for others it is more solemn.

What might I see at the service?

The service is led by the pastor, often with a musician or soloist leading the songs, and it includes readings from the Bible. It may take place at the church, a funeral home chapel, or the graveside. Assemblies of God services typically last 30 to 60 minutes, and an open casket is usual, although guests are not expected to view the body. FuneralWise describes Pentecostal services as more exuberant than other Protestant services, and notes that in many congregations the people file past the casket after the service. Dark clothing is traditional, though some Pentecostal congregations now use white to symbolize belief in the resurrection. After the service, a committal at the graveside is common, and a women’s group at the church often provides a meal.

Burial or cremation?

Protestants have traditionally favored burial without banning cremation, as Baptist News Global reports. FuneralWise says the Assemblies of God prefers burial, and that cremation is permitted among Pentecostals. Lifeway Research found in 2014 that 41 percent of Americans plan to be cremated, and that self-described born-again, evangelical, or fundamentalist Christians were the group most likely, at 27 percent, to say cremation is wrong, yet 70 percent of them disagreed that cremation would keep someone from being resurrected. Pastors differ, and many reassure families that cremation does not conflict with belief in the resurrection. Ask your pastor, and see Can Christians Be Cremated? How Denominations Differ. Some pastors also caution against a long gap between a private cremation and a memorial service, according to Baptist News Global.

How can I be a good guest?

Friends and family from outside the tradition are usually welcome at every part of the service, according to FuneralWise. You can follow along and join in where you feel comfortable. Guests are generally expected to stand and sit with the congregation, and joining in the prayers or songs is optional. Dress in dark clothing unless the family asks for something else. Flowers are common at Assemblies of God funerals, but ask the family or check the obituary for preferences.

What should families planning a service think about?

Talk to your pastor early about the service, the music, and the readings, and about whether the person wanted burial or cremation. Decide whether you will hold a visitation, and who will speak. Many churches help with a meal afterward. If you choose cremation, decide when to hold the memorial service, ideally close enough to the death that the family can gather together. The Role of a Priest, Pastor, or Clergy Member in the Days After a Death explains how clergy can help, and Right of Disposition Explained covers who decides when relatives disagree.

What doesn’t this guide cover?

• Black church homegoing traditions, covered in African American Homegoing Traditions
• Latino Pentecostal and evangelical customs, which blend with other traditions; see the Latino funeral guide
• Theology and differences between denominations, which belong to each church
• Review by the community. This guide needs review by evangelical and Pentecostal pastors and church members before it is promoted widely

Practices vary widely by community, family, and faith. This is general information, not religious or legal advice and not a substitute for the family’s own guidance. It has not yet been reviewed by members of the evangelical and Pentecostal community.