Denominational Worship Books for Protestant Funerals Explained

The Books That Shape Every Service

When you sit through a mainline Protestant funeral, the prayers you hear and the order of the service are not improvised. They come from official denominational worship books that pastors follow — sometimes word for word. Understanding which book governs which tradition helps you know what to expect, what you can request, and what is genuinely non-negotiable.

Here is each denomination's authoritative text, what it contains for funerals, and what it means practically for your family's planning.

The Episcopal Church: The Book of Common Prayer (BCP)

The BCP is the backbone of all Episcopal worship, and its funeral liturgy — titled "The Burial of the Dead" — is one of the most structured in mainline Protestantism. Published in its current form in 1979, it provides two complete funeral rites:

Rite I uses traditional Elizabethan language ("thou," "thee," "hast"). Rite Two uses contemporary English. Most parishes default to Rite Two, but families can request Rite I if the deceased preferred traditional language.

The BCP prescribes:

• Specific opening anthems (the "burial sentences" beginning with "I am the Resurrection and the Life")
• Approved scripture readings drawn from a curated list
• The structure of the prayers and the commendation
• The requirement that a white funeral pall cover the casket inside the church
• The form of the committal service at the graveside

The BCP also contains the "Burial Office" — an older term for the entire funeral liturgy complex. When a pastor says "we'll follow the Burial Office," they mean the complete BCP funeral rite, including the reception of the body, the liturgy of the Word, optional Eucharist, commendation, and committal.

What families can customize: Hymn selection (from an approved hymnal), which specific scripture passages from the BCP list, who gives a brief remembrance, and whether the Eucharist is celebrated. What is fixed: The order of service, the opening sentences, the use of the pall, and the commendation prayers.

ELCA Lutheran: Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW)

Published in 2006, ELW replaced the older Lutheran Book of Worship as the ELCA's primary resource. Its funeral liturgy is titled simply "Funeral" and carries a strong baptismal theology — the service explicitly connects the deceased's death to their baptism.

The standard ELW funeral includes:

• A Thanksgiving for Baptism at the entrance, where the casket may be sprinkled with water
• Placement of the funeral pall as a baptismal garment symbol
• A set of approved readings (similar range to the BCP but with some different selections)
• A sermon (not a eulogy — the pastor preaches on scripture and the promise of resurrection)
• Optional Holy Communion
• A commendation that includes the prayer "Into your hands, O merciful Savior"

ELW also provides a supplementary volume, Pastoral Care, which contains rites for the dying (Commendation of the Dying), a vigil before the funeral, and additional prayers for the bereaved.

What families can customize: Hymns from the ELW hymnal or approved supplements, specific readings from the approved list, one brief personal remembrance. What is fixed: The baptismal framework, the sermon (not a eulogy), the commendation.

Presbyterian Church (USA): The Book of Common Worship and Directory for Worship

The PCUSA funeral is called the "Service of Witness to the Resurrection" — the name itself is theological, emphasizing that the service testifies to God's victory over death rather than simply commemorating a life.

The governing text is the Directory for Worship (part of the PCUSA Book of Order), which provides directives rather than scripted prayers. The Book of Common Worship (2018 edition) supplements the directory with suggested liturgies, prayers, and scripture selections.

Key principles from the Directory for Worship:

• The service is under the authority of the session (the governing board of elders) and the pastor
• Simplicity is preferred — the Directory cautions against "ostentation" and excessive personalization
• The focus is on God's sovereignty and the hope of resurrection, not on the deceased's achievements
• Eulogies are optional and should be brief; the pastoral meditation (homily) centers on scripture

What families can customize: Hymn selection, which approved readings, whether a family member gives a brief remembrance, and whether the Lord's Supper is celebrated. What is fixed: The pastoral authority over the service, the theological emphasis on resurrection witness.

United Methodist Church: The United Methodist Hymnal and Book of Worship

The UMC funeral is officially titled "A Service of Death and Resurrection," and its liturgy is found in both the United Methodist Hymnal (1989) and the United Methodist Book of Worship (1992).

The UMC approach balances structure with pastoral warmth:

• The service opens with "Words of Grace and Greeting" — a pastoral welcome that directly addresses the grief in the room
• Scripture readings follow, typically one from the Old Testament, a Psalm, an Epistle, and a Gospel
• The "Naming" section allows the pastor (or a family member) to name specific qualities of the deceased's faith life — this is the UMC's version of a remembrance, and it is more expansive than what Episcopal or Lutheran tradition allows
• Holy Communion is optional but encouraged
• The committal follows a standard Methodist order

What families can customize: The UMC allows meaningful flexibility on personal elements. Hymns, readings, the length of the Naming section, and even brief family tributes can be discussed with the pastor. What is fixed: The opening words of grace, the structural order, and the pastor's authority over the service.

United Church of Christ: The Book of Worship

The UCC funeral — "Order for Thanksgiving for One Who Has Died" — reflects the denomination's emphasis on congregational autonomy and local flexibility. The Book of Worship (first published in 1986 and revised in 2002) provides a suggested order of service, but individual UCC pastors have significant freedom to adapt it.

This means UCC funerals vary more than those of any other mainline denomination. Some follow a traditional liturgical structure close to the Presbyterian model. Others incorporate extensive lay participation, non-traditional readings, and contemporary music.

What families can customize: Nearly everything beyond the basic framework. UCC funerals can accommodate more personal tributes, a wider range of music, and more family involvement than the other four traditions. What is fixed: The pastor's role in guiding the service and the theological foundation of thanksgiving and hope.

Why This Matters for Your Planning

Knowing which book governs your denomination tells you where the boundaries are before you walk into the planning meeting with the pastor. Asking for a secular song at an Episcopal funeral may be declined; popular or sentimental songs are typically reserved for the visitation or reception rather than the sanctuary. The same request at a UCC church might be welcomed. Understanding these distinctions saves time, prevents disappointment, and lets you focus your creative energy on the elements you can actually shape.

For a side-by-side comparison of all five denominational funeral rites, including what is fixed, what is flexible, and the exact order of service for each tradition, the Protestant Mainline Funeral Guide provides the complete breakdown in one reference document.