A memorial is a contribution one makes in memory of a person who has died. To give a gift in another's memory is to express the respect and love that continues beyond death.
West Des Moines United Methodist Church encourages memorial giving as a part of one's Christian stewardship. The Memorial Committee seeks to assist persons in giving memorials by providing information and suggestions.
A memorial may be established through the Memorial Committee in one of the following ways:
1. You may contribute a memorial gift directly to West Des Moines United Methodist Church. The Memorial Committee will then send a card to the family of the bereaved indicating that a memorial gift has been given by you.
or
2. You may give your memorial gift directly to the family, who may then establish a memorial through our Memorial Committee.
Memorial contributions are deposited in a special Memorial Fund Account, where they remain until used to purchase a memorial.
Your gift may be designated for a specific purpose, or, if you leave it undesignated for more than six months, its use will be left to the discretion of the Memorial Committee. If there are stipulations, specific limitations or expectations regarding a particular memorial, they must be reviewed and accepted by the Board of Trustees. If, for whatever reason, the Trustees feel the stipulations cannot be honored, the gift will not be accepted.
Memorial gifts are recorded in the Memorial Records Book, which is kept on public display in the entry of the church. Twice each year the congregation recognizes new memorial gifts and formally dedicates them. Family members are invited to be present for the dedication of their memorial.
The Memorial Committee invites you to consider memorial giving as a way of honoring those special people who have enriched your life.