PURPOSE: The Funeral Coordinator provides support to the bereaved, honor the deceased, and glorify Jesus Christ by coordinating the funeral/memorial, reception, and interment along with the bereaved family, pastor, funeral director, and church support staff. This position ensures the funeral service runs smoothly and successfully, and provides grief support for family members.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• Contact bereaved family to compile information for the Intake Sheet.

• Coordinate with funeral director and church support staff the availability of pastor, venue, and various departments.

• Meet with family and pastor to establish a personal relationship with the bereaved, provide grief support, and finalize the Order of Service.

• Oversee the funeral and ensure service and reception is conducted successfully.

ESSENTIAL TASKS:

• Make initial contact with family or point of contact

• Complete the Intake Sheet with proposed funeral (reception) date, time, and venue

• Verify eSpace for availability of venue

• Contact Audio, Video, and Janitorial to confirm the availability of departments

• Send email with service details to pastor arranging the officiating pastor and various departments that may be involved in the process:

• Bulletin

• Pastor’s secretary

• eSpace coordinator

• Audio Department

• Video Department

• Janitorial Department

• Front desk

• Maintenance

• Ministry Support

• Reception Volunteer

• Worship leader

• Input funeral and reception into eSpace

• Make appointment with officiating pastor and family to meet and discuss the life of the deceased and go over Order of Service and reception

• Coordinate with funeral home and caterer as needed

• Email various departments of details learned in meeting with family

• Ensure video tribute and screen photos are delivered to Video Department day before service.

• Coordinate with Audio any visiting musician’s audio needs

• Day of funeral:

• Ensure musician, video staff, audio staff, funeral director and pastor have an updated Order of Service;

• Ensure the Order of Service is taped on podium

• Coordinate with funeral director the procession/recession with casket if needed

• Prepare prayer room with tissue boxes and lights on

• Place “Reserved” signs on first rows

• Place water bottles on first row chairs and provide one for pastor and musician

• Welcome family and tend to their needs

• Ensure flowers are arranged nicely on stage

• Ensure guest book and memory cards are on guest book table

• Ensure tissue boxes are distributed neatly in rows of chairs

• Close guest book and direct guests to their seats just before meeting in prayer room

• Meet with pastor and family in prayer room five minutes before service to pray and review Order of Service to prepare eulogists to speak

• Cue musician to begin playing and announce to have guests stand as the family enters the sanctuary

• Remain in funeral and be available for any unforeseen event

• After funeral, stand and greet guests as they leave

• Direct guests to reception and ensure staff opens doors for large groups

• Ensure music is playing in the reception venue

• Direct caterers setting up for reception

• Be available to caterer for unforeseen needs or questions

• Help serve family and or guests

• Be available for family and guests for unforeseen needs, concerns or questions

• SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Spiritual gifts of mercy, service, encouragement, administration and leadership

• Experience in social work, counseling, communications, public relations and event coordination preferable

• Christ-centered heart to serve and be empathetic

• Strong organizational skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with exceptional interpersonal skills

• Highly self-motivated with the ability to work independently

• Ability to maintain a calm demeanor while working under pressure with tight deadlines and grieving families

• Excellent problem solving and decision making skills to address unforeseen events

• Detail-oriented with the ability to multitask

COMMENTS
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of this job and the level of work performed by employees in this position.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties required by their supervisor.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.