CEMETERY POLICY

First Mennonite Church (FMC), Hillsboro, Kansas

Approved April 18, 2013 by FMC Ministries Council

Introduction

1. The Cemetery Sexton is an important ministry of both stewardship and care, as the sexton

attends to the maintenance of the cemetery grounds and records.

Specific tasks: Sell cemetery plots and forward sales receipts to the Church Treasurer

Maintain accurate records of plots available, plots sold, deaths and burials

Stake out graves when a burial is scheduled

Stake for headstone

Maintain weed control and lawn care

Tend to the graves, filling in with dirt and scattering grass seed as needed.

2. All members and their immediate families are eligible to purchase lot (s).

3. Current cost is $100 per plot paid to the FMC sextons or to the FMC church treasurer.

4. In the event of an unused lot, it may be transferred to a family member or re-gifted to First

Mennonite Church.

5. Lot sizes 5 feet by 11 feet, and are in blocks of 8, all predetermined.

6. For conventional burials, vaults/outer burial containers are strongly recommended in order to

maintain the integrity of the remains and to avoid settling.

Headstones, Markers or other permanent structures or memorials

1. The foundation of the headstone, marker, structure or memorial must conform to a maximum

of 24 inches by 60 inches, lying in the headstone row.

2. Planting of flowers, shrubs, or trees is not permitted.

3. Sod or grass is the only surface permitted on the top of the grave.

4. Headstones and markers are the responsibility of the family to maintain.

Placing of flowers, adornments, lighting and memorabilia

1. This cemetery reflects who we are as a Mennonite congregation, our history and tradition of

simplicity in burial and the appearance of the cemetery.

2. From headstones placed from this time on, display of any of the above on a permanent basis

needs to be in a vase or a hole that is part of the foundation or the headstone base.

3. Flowers, temporary flowers and adornments, and seasonal decorations may be placed a week

prior to the special holiday and will be removed a week after the holiday or other special

anniversaries. Flowers placed at the time of burial may be left longer than 2 weeks at the

discretion of the sextons.

4. Memorial Day flowers and adornments will be removed two weeks after Memorial Day.

5. Solar lights are allowed on a temporary basis. Existing solar lights will be left standing until

December 31, 2013.

6. Memorabilia would be allowed for two weeks following burial. Any items placed at a later

time will risk being picked up and discarded by the sexton.

Cremation Burials

1. A maximum of two cremation burials are allowed per lot.

2. Minimum depth is 24 inches.

3. Family is responsible for the digging of the hole. Sextons are willing to place a suggested

burial mark if requested.

4. Remains are to be buried in a non-decaying container.

Limitations

1. All cemetery lots shall be used for burial of the human dead and for no other purposes.

Process

Items not covered shall be decided at the discretion of the cemetery sexton and/or Stewardship Committee or Ministries Council.

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