Columbarium

MEMORIAL GARDEN AND COLUMBARIUM

PREFACE

In 1990, the Board of Trustees of Centenary United Methodist Church commissioned a committee to study the possible construction of a Columbarium on Church grounds. After intensive study and consultation with many members, in March, 1992, the Board of Trustees recommended to the Administrative Board (predecessor of the Church Council) of the Church that a Columbarium be constructed on the West side of the Church sanctuary, to the South of Fifth Street.

The Columbarium stands as a reminder to us that those who went before us are not forgotten and have found peace and rest with God. It is the hope of the Board of Trustees and the Church Council that this valued addition to our Church grounds will inspire reverence for this life and hope for the life to come.

The Rules and Regulations contained in this document are meant as a guide or road map for Church members and their families as well as other interested persons. It is impossible to answer every possible question about inurnment or internment in the Centenary Columbarium. Therefore, a Standing Committee of the Church, titled the "Centenary Memorial Garden and Columbarium Committee," appointed by the Board of Trustees as a sub-committee of the Board and shall report to the Board of Trustees, will have responsibility for making ongoing decisions regarding the use of the facilities.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

1. Definitions: As used herein, the following terms are defined as follows:

A. "Columbarium" is that portion of the Church grounds which includes the Columbarium niches    and immediately surrounding areas. Suggestion:  Rename “The Columbarium” to be “The Centenary Memorial Garden and Columbarium.”

B. "Centenary Memorial Garden and Columbarium Committee" is a committee of five individuals who are Church members. This committee shall be appointed by and shall report directly to the Board of Trustees.

C. "Columbarium Niche" is a niche in which cremated human remains are placed.

D "Cremains" are cremated human remains.

E. "Eligible persons" are those persons who may purchase and be inurned in a Columbarium Niche. Eligible persons include:

(I) Members of Centenary Church, their immediate family members and the siblings of Members who are also owners of niches;

(II) Ordained members of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, and others as proposed by the Senior Minister and approved by the Board of Trustees.

F. "Immediate family members" of Members of Centenary Church include parents, spouses, and children, whether natural, adopted, foster or step.

2. Books and Records: The Director of Operations shall be the Custodian of all Books and Records of the Columbarium, including all Certificates of Purchase of Columbarium Niches. Such records shall include, but shall not be limited to, a chart or diagram designating by number each niche. The Director of Operations shall keep a record of all income and expenses associated with the construction and maintenance of the Columbarium, which Books and Records shall be open and available for inspection by Members of Centenary Church and Eligible persons upon reasonable notice.

3. Sale of Niches the Director of Operations shall receive applications for the purchase of Columbarium niches on a first come - first served basis. Applications shall be completed in writing on a form approved by the Centenary Memorial Garden and Columbarium Committee. It shall be the duty of the Director of Operations, in consultation with the  Centenary Memorial Garden and Columbarium Committee, to determine that applications for purchase are in proper order and that applicants are Eligible persons.

Applicants, if they desire, may request to purchase specific niches either individually or in groups. If purchase of niches in groups is requested, each applicant must fill out and execute a separate application.

Only Eligible persons may apply for the right to purchase a niche or to be inurned in a niche.

4. Transfer of Niches: The right to inurnment is personal to and retained only by the person(s) designated on the Certificate of Purchase. No sale or other transfer of Certificates of Purchase of niches may occur by will, intestate succession, gift or otherwise, except upon approval by the Board of Trustees of the Church. The Church has no obligation to approve a transfer. The Church has no obligation to repurchase niches, although the Director of Operations will endeavor to resell niches to Eligible persons upon written request and upon approval by the Board of Trustees.

The rights granted under the Certificate of Purchase shall lapse upon the happening of one or more of the following events:

A. Cessation of operation of the Columbarium (in which event the purchase price shall be refunded by the Church, exclusive of interest, costs or other penalty) to the owner of the Certificate.

B. Inurnment or interment of the owner of the Certificate elsewhere.