Church Approvals for Cremation

Roman Catholics

Cremation of the bodies of the deceased has been an acceptable option for Catholics of the Latin Rite since 1963. The Second Vatican Council recognized countries such as England or Japan had little land for cemeteries. Also, places such as India, China and Japan are cultures where ground burial is not common. In other parts of the world cremation is necessary for health and or economic reasons. Current Church Legislation regarding cremation can be found in the 1983 revision of the Code of Canon Law (cc. 1176, 1184) which follows recommendations made in 1963 that cremation no longer be condemned.

Church of England

The Church of England has nothing against cremation; these days six out of 10 funerals make use of the crematorium. This leaves the question of what is to be done with the ashes. Crematoria have gardens of rest where they can be buried and many churchyards have a special place set aside for burying ashes even when there is no space left for graves. When this burial takes place, usually a few days after the funeral, a further very brief service can be held if the family wish it and some suitable commemorative mark or record may be made.

Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church accepts cremation.

Their doctrinal statements, then, affirm the bodily resurrection of Jesus, indeed the resurrection of the same body that entered the tomb. But for believers, many of whose bodies over the past two thousand years may have entirely decomposed, if they were not burned, lost at sea, or otherwise destroyed, our statements speak simply of the resurrection of "the dead." This is consistent not only with biology, but also with the teaching of Paul in I Corinthians 15. There, Paul insists that resurrection is real, necessary, and more than a matter of revivifying dead bodies or remains. Instead, he speaks of a spiritual body that is raised of which our perishable, corruptible bodies are at most but the seed (see especially verses 35-49).

For all of these reasons, United Methodists do not insist upon burial as the only appropriate means of committing our earthly remains to God, and so are generally open to cremation as a viable alternative. In some places burial or entombment is simply not an option, either because of costs involved or because of a lack of cemetery space. Ultimately, this is a decision that will be in the context of the individuals, families, and cultural norms involved.

Pentecostal Assemblies

The Pentecostal Church began in 1901 at a Bethel Bible College in Topeka, Kansas, when preacher Charles Fox Parham decided to take a new approach to religion. Pentecostal congregations in Canada are affiliated with one of two international organizations, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada or the United Pentecostal Church International. • The Church follows the common funeral and burial practices of Christian denominations. • Funeral services may be conducted in churches or other appropriate locations and are followed by Christian burial. • Clergy officiate at funerals and burials. • The Church does not object to cremation.

Presbyterian Church in Canada

The Presbyterian Church is one of the largest Protestant Churches in Canada. The term Presbyterianism generally refers to a system of Church government by elected representative assemblies called presbyteries, in contrast to government by bishops or by congregations. Death and burial: A belief in a heavenly afterlife for those predestined by God for eternal salvation informs common practices and marks of respect for the deceased. There are no prescribed practices or rites, though church memorial services and burial accompanied by prayer and invocation to God are common among adherents. Funeral services may be held in church or at the funeral home. The Church generally follows standard practices for Christian funerals and burial. The Church does not object to cremation.

United Church of Canada

There are no prescribed practices or rites, though memorial services in church and burial led by ministers and accompanied by prayer and invocation to God on behalf of the departed soul are common among adherents. The Church has stated no position on cremation.

Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Church has no official position on cremation. In their textbook on "Pastoral Theology" (used at our Synod's seminaries), LCMS Pastors Norbert H. Mueller and George Kraus explain why this practice, which used to be viewed negatively by the church, is now being viewed more favorably (or at least neutrally): "Not too long ago, the church viewed cremation negatively. Because the general public associated the practice with heathen religions and/or an attempt to disprove the possibility of the resurrection, Christians were reluctant to consider it. "In itself, the practice has no theological significance and may be used in good conscience. In fact, because of space limitations in some areas (e.g., West Berlin, England), and because of health considerations, cremation is increasing in favor. Cost, too, is a legitimate consideration, although the family considering it for this reason should be reminded that cost is saved only when there is no public viewing and, thus, no need for embalming and use of the visitation room." The major Lutheran churches in the United States, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), both allow cremation as well. The ELCA has guidelines for cremation as well as organ donation, as the concerns with both issues deal in the resurrection of the body and LCMS states that there is no Lutheran position on the issue.