Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
JAMAICAN CHURCHES are making big bucks from funerals especially from persons who are non-members.
Traditionally, most Jamaicans look to the church service as the first step in the funeral process, but in recent years many have had to dig deep to come up with the money needed for the service.
Non-church members are now being asked to pay as much as $19,500 to have their deceased relatives or friends churched. This is separate from the package charged by the undertakers.
Shane Morgan, who identified himself as Father's Assistant, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church, Kingston, said on Thursday that for a funeral, it would cost $12,000 for the use of the church, plus $5,000 for the organist and an additional $2,500 as a caution fee.
"If the funeral leaves the church on time, then they will get back the caution fee. The money must be paid at least three days before the funeral," said Mr. Morgan.
One Central Kingston resident who assisted in the burial of an elderly woman a week ago, claimed she had to plead with the authorities at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Church to reduce the cost. "A $10,000 we pay down," the woman said.
President of the Eastern Region of the Seventh-Day Adventist Churches of West Indies Union, Milton Gregory, was not aware that some churches were now charging to facilitate funeral services.
"I believe that it is a service that we (church) offer to the community, but people are charging for everything now" said Mr. Gregory.
The elder clergyman also stressed that if a 'collection' or 'offering' is taken up, prior to the end of the funeral service, and that contribution goes to the church, then the church should not charge a fee.
EXPENSES
Errol Griffiths, pastor of the Shortwood Road Seventh-Day Adventist, said his church does not charge for funeral services. He confirmed that some churches affixed a charge to cover expenses such as janitorial services, organist fee and the use of the church.
"What happens is that some churches do not have an organist and have to go outside to find one for the funeral(s). That organist might ask for a fee, probably $1,000, so the church might charge a sum to cover this expense," explain Pastor Griffiths.
For example, the North Street Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Kingston, facilitates up to three funerals on Sundays and charges $5,000 per funeral.
"It is just a contribution that we ask for, it is nothing mandatory. There are individuals who come to us sometimes without money and we go ahead with the funeral," the pastor of the church, Linton Williams, told The Sunday Gleaner.
He hastily pointed out that the money collected neither goes to the church fund nor in the pocket of the officiating pastors. The money is used to assist with utility bills and pay individuals brought in specifically to assist the church in facilitating the funeral(s).
"We have to also provide petrol or transportation for the officiating minister, travelling to the graveside. If it is further than Dovecot or Meadowrest, it will cost more," said Pastor Williams.
A middle-aged man from South Camp Road said he buried his mother more than a year ago and at the time his family had to struggle to find the $5,000 and pay the North Street Seventh-Day Adventist to have the use of the church.
"At the time, we had planned to give the church a token of appreciation, but not so much," the middle-aged man said.
CHECKS
Checks with the Tax Administration Services Department have revealed that the church is not 100 per cent exempt from paying taxes. An advisory publicised by the department recently stated that under Section 47 of the General Consumption Tax Act, Dr. Omar Davies, the Minister of Finance, may waive any tax under the Act if he considers it just.
According to the advisory, the GCT Act continues to provide for the zero rating of non-consumable goods purchased or imported by places of worship. These include but not limited musical instruments, public address systems, carpets, drapes, fans, offertory envelopes and air conditioning units for use in the worship area.
