Lay Preachers

[ffutures]

Another Titan question - I'm saying that there isn't currently an ordained minister on Titan. I want to have a funeral in my adventure. While there's nothing to stop it being a civil ceremony, or I could simply change things to add a minister, I'm wondering if there are any mainstream Christian sects that would authorize a lay preacher to perform funerals, marriages, etc. pending the arrival of a proper priest.

Wikipedia, Google, etc. are mostly saying no, but given the special circumstances I'm wondering if there's some system for making a temporary arrangement in any of the major churches.

Anyone know?

Also posted, in a little more detail, to little_details but currently waiting in the moderation queue.

Comments

[elfbiter.livejournal.com]

I take it you can't use somebody like a spaceship captain who could perform ceremonies on their own authority?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Civil isn't a problem, there's a mayor who has that as one of his roles, but people do like religion.

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

How about some updated variant on Catholicism?

Canon law permits that "[w]here the needs of the Church require and ministers are not available, lay people, even though they are not lectors or acolytes, can supply certain of their functions, that is, exercise the ministry of the word, preside over liturgical prayers, confer baptism and distribute Holy Communion, in accordance with the provisions of the law."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_minister_of_Holy_Communion
(I was an "extraordinary minister" at University and my mother still is at my family parish)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That's certainly a possibility, though it looks like you would need the authority given to extraordinary ministers expanded quite a bit to make it work.

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

For delegation as a lay leader of liturgy at Funerals, the candidate must demonstrate in addition an understanding of the Order of Christian Funerals some theological understanding of Christian death, and the basic skills of pastoral care of the bereaved.
http://litcom.net.au/documents/layleaders.php#laypeople
(section 5)

and
In the Archdiocese of Brisbane, explicit delegation from the archbishop is required for all lay leaders of liturgy. Lay people so delegated to lead worship in Catholic communities may include any baptised person whose way of life is consistent with the Gospel and who would be acceptable to the local community

So in theory, a lay person with a good Catholic background could receive a radio message (or take with them a letter) giving them authority to preside over a religious funeral.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[ci5rod.livejournal.com]

I believe Anglican Lay Readers can perform funerals, otherwise several that I've been to have been dodgy :-) I'm not absolutely certain Readers can perform the committal without being ordained, but I think they can.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I've gone with Baptist, seems the simplest.