Southern Funeral Program Template: What to Include in the Bulletin

What the Funeral Program Does

In Southern Protestant churches, the funeral program — also called the bulletin, the order of service, or simply "the program" — is the printed document that every attendee receives as they enter the sanctuary. It serves three simultaneous functions: it tells the congregation what will happen and when, it provides a biographical snapshot of the deceased, and it becomes a permanent keepsake that family members hold onto for decades.

Getting the program right matters more than it might seem. In Black church traditions (AME, COGIC, National Baptist), the program is a formal production — sometimes four to eight pages, with a glossy cover photo, the full order of worship, the obituary, acknowledgments, and the church's Resolution of Respect. In Baptist and Methodist congregations, the format is often a single folded sheet, but the content is just as carefully curated.

Standard Sections of a Southern Funeral Program

The cover. A portrait of the deceased (ideally a recent photo where they look healthy and recognizable), their full legal name, dates of birth and death, and the words "Homegoing Celebration" or "A Service of Worship in Celebration of the Life of" or simply "In Loving Memory of." The choice of language signals denominational and cultural context — "Homegoing" is characteristic of Black Protestant traditions, while "A Service of Death and Resurrection" is the United Methodist standard.

The order of service. This is the spine of the program and must reflect what will actually happen during the service. A typical Southern Protestant order looks like:

1. Processional / Opening Hymn
2. Scripture Reading (Old Testament)
3. Prayer / Invocation
4. Solo or Choir Selection
5. Scripture Reading (New Testament)
6. Obituary Reading
7. Resolutions and Acknowledgments
8. Eulogy / Tributes from Family and Friends
9. Sermon / The Word of God
10. Altar Call / Invitation (some Baptist, COGIC, or Pentecostal churches — if discussed and agreed upon with the family)
11. Closing Hymn
12. Benediction / Closing Prayer
13. Recessional
14. Interment (graveside location and time)

The specific elements and their order vary by denomination. In Presbyterian (PCA) services, personal tributes are minimal and the service focuses tightly on scripture, psalms, and the sermon. In AME services, the order includes the Doxology, the Affirmation of Faith (Apostles' Creed), and the Gloria Patri. The pastor is the final authority on the order of worship — confirm every element with the church before printing.

The obituary. The biographical section covers the deceased's full name, date and place of birth, family history, education, career, church membership, community involvement, and a list of survivors (spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings) and predeceased family members. In Southern tradition, this list is exhaustive — omitting a surviving relative, even an estranged one, can cause lasting offense.

Acknowledgments. A brief paragraph from the family thanking the church, the pastor, the bereavement ministry, the choir, pallbearers, and the community for their support. This is standard and expected.

Pallbearer listing. Names of the active pallbearers (those who carry the casket) and honorary pallbearers (those recognized for their close relationship to the deceased but who do not physically carry the casket). In some Southern churches, the honorary pallbearer list includes the entire deacon board or a specific Sunday school class.

Hymn titles and permitted text. If the congregation will be singing, list the hymn titles and include full lyrics only when the church has the necessary permission or the text is in the public domain. Many visitors at Southern funerals are not members of the host church and may not have access to the hymnal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Printing before the pastor confirms the order of service. The pastor has final authority over what happens in the sanctuary. If you print 200 programs listing a solo that the pastor vetoed, or an altar call that was never discussed, you have created an awkward conflict on the day of the service.

Misspelling names. Triple-check every name — the deceased, every listed survivor, every pallbearer, the pastor, the soloist, the organist. A misspelled name in a funeral program is a permanent error in a permanent document.

Listing the wrong church name or address. If the service is at First Baptist Church of Springfield and you print "First Baptist Church, Springfield" (dropping the "of"), long-time members will notice. Copy the church's official name from their website or letterhead.

Omitting the graveside location and time. Attendees need to know where to go after the church service. Include the cemetery name, address, and the time of the committal. If a repast follows, include that location too.

Using a photo the family has not approved. The cover photo is the single most visible element. Let the immediate family — not a well-meaning aunt — choose the image.

Who Creates the Program

In many cases, the funeral home offers to produce the program as part of their service package. Ask whether design and printing are included and request an itemized quote based on page count, paper stock, and whether a color photo is included.

Alternatively, a tech-savvy family member or church volunteer can create the program using a word processor or design tool like Canva. Standard funeral program templates are widely available online. The key is starting early — the program must be finalized and printed before the service, so confirm the proof deadline with the church, funeral home, and printer.

The Full Planning Toolkit

If you are coordinating a Southern Protestant funeral and managing the program alongside the church, funeral home, flowers, repast, and graveside logistics, the Protestant Funeral — US Southern / Bible Belt guide provides an integrated timeline that keeps every piece on track.