Columbarium Regulations

1. Authority:  Management of the Columbarium is entrusted by the Church to the Memorial Garden committee and the pastor.  The Committee shall have the authority to establish reasonable procedures for the care and use of the Columbarium and to collect and disburse funds.  Duties of the Committee shall include the assignment of niches, maintenance of records of the ashes inurned in each niche, and such other activities as are necessary or appropriate to the successful operation of the Columbarium.
2. Ownership:  The Columbarium grounds, and all niches remain the property of Peakland Baptist Church.  Reservation of a niche and payment of the established fees entitle the Purchases to the privilege of use and not the right of ownership.
3. Use of Niches:  Each niche may be used for the ashes of one or two eligible persons specified by a Purchases who is responsible for the payment of designated fees.  Each Purchaser may appoint another person to make or change designations in case the Purchases dies or becomes incapacitated.  In the event another person is not named or fails to serve, the Committee shall function for the Purchases or appoint a substitute. 
4. Eligibility:  The ashes of any past or present member of Peakland Baptist Church, his or her spouse, parents and children, and others who in the opinion of a majority of the members of the Committee have a sufficient connection to the Church, shall be eligible for inurnment in the Columbarium. 
5. Responsibility and Disclaimer:  Peakland Baptist Church shall endeavor to protect the ashes and their receptacles before and after they are inurned in the Columbarium, but it shall have no responsibility for failure to do so.  The Church reserves the right to alter or to move the Columbarium, or any of the contents thereof, if deemed appropriate by legal and/or unforeseen events that may occur.  Ashes will only be removed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
6. Rites and Services:  All rites and services, including officiates, in connection with the inurnment of ashes in the Columbarium shall be those prescribed or approved by the pastor.
7. Urns or Containers:  All urns or other containers for ashes shall be on dimensions and construction approved by the Committee.
8. Plaques and Inscriptions:  Each inurnment shall be marked by a plaque and in order to ensure uniformity, only niche plaques authorized by the committee may be used.  Inscriptions shall likewise be uniform in style, size, and structure, and may include only the name of the decedent and the dates of birth and death. 
9. Reservation of Niches:  Niches shall be available to Purchasers upon payment of reservation.  Payment of fees entitles the Purchaser to the use of the niche for the inurnment of the cremated remains of qualified persons.  No transfer of a reservation may be made without the prior written approval of the Committee.  In the event a Purchaser determines to cancel a reservation, he or she may do so in writing, in which event a refund of the purchase price will be made, payable on the resale of the niche.
10. Memorial Plaques:  Plaques in memory of persons whose remains are scattered, inurned or interred elsewhere may be purchased and mounted in the space designated for that purpose.  They shall be uniform in material, dimension, and style of inscription as specified by the Committee and shall be inscribed only with the name and dates of birth and death.
11. Fees and Charges:  Costs are as follows:                              
        Reservation of a niche:   $1200 (single)
                                                 1500 (double)
        Memorial Plaques           $ 300
       
        The opening and closing of niches and the mounting of plaques is the
        responsibility of the committee
    
        The choice of a funeral director is the responsibility of the family of estate of 
        the decedent.  The cost of cremation and all other funeral costs of the  
        Purchaser and payment for such services is made directly to the funeral home
        by the Purchases
12. Columbarium Fund:  Funds received from the reservation of niches and memorial plaques shall be placed in a Columbarium Endowment Fund to be administered by the Committee.  Memorial contributions to the Columbarium Fund are welcomed and encouraged.
13. Records:  Records pertaining to the Memorial Garden and Columbarium, will be maintained by the Committee and will be available in the Church office.
14. Amendments:  Amendments to these Regulations may be made only upon recommendations by a majority of the Committee and subsequent approval by the Church.  Any amendments will no be retroactive in effect.

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Last Update:  10/01/01