Weddings and Funerals
Because Readers in Christian Science churches are not clergy, they are not authorized to officiate over weddings in most jurisdictions. This presents a unique situation for Mother Church members who get married, as a rule in their Church Manual requires a "clergyman who is legally authorized". A member of another denomination's clergy can fulfill this requirement. This clergyman might in fact be a woman, as Christian Scientists frequently use the term "man" without implying any gender.
The Christian Science faith has no specific requirement to have funeral services or how they might be conducted. As such, Readers have no funeral duties per se, although a Reader or any other Christian Scientist might choose to conduct a meeting of this type if requested to do so.
Read more about this topic: Reader (Christian Science Church)
Famous quotes containing the word funerals:
“Since the last one in a graveyard is believed to be the next one fated to die, funerals often end in a mad scramble.”
—Administration in the State of Texa, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)