If you would like more information or would like to purchase a niche, please contact Steven Noel @ 812-584-2281.  

 

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Columbarium Regulations

 

• The following regulations shall govern the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Zion) Columbarium located at 10629 State Road 48 Sunman, Indiana 47041.

 

• All regulations and rules concerning the Columbarium will be managed by the “Columbarium Team,” which is appointed by the Zion Church Council. This group from here on will be known as the “Columbarium Team.”

 

• Zion does at all times reserve the right to have full control of the Columbarium. Such control is exercised through the Columbarium Team.

 

1. Description:

The columbarium consists of niches uniform in size (13” x 13” x 13”) of the capacity to hold the cremains of one (1) or two (2) persons for inurnment with a limit of 2 inurnment per niche if urn size permits. Urns must be a standard rigid walled sealed urn intended to contain ashes. Each niche is covered with a granite plate, uniform in size, which is engraved with the name(s) and dates of birth and death of the deceased.

 

2. Niche Cover Engraving:

Engraving niche covers must be of uniform size and style as prescribed by the Columbarium Team. Each niche cover is inscribed with the name(s) and dates of birth and death of the deceased. Niches containing the remains of two people are inscribed with information for both people. No other inscriptions are permitted unless approved by the Columbarium Team. Niche Cover Engraving must be completed by an approved engraver that has been approved by the Columbarium Team. The buyer will be responsible for the cost of engraving, and the replacement cost of any niche covers due to an error made in engraved information.

 

3. Eligibility:

 The columbarium is restricted to the inurnment of cremains of members of Zion, as well as other approved confirmed Lutheran Churches, spouses of members, children, or stepchildren of members, and current or past ministers of these churches and their spouses. Other people sharing a relationship with Zion may also be regarded eligible, if approved by the Zion Columbarium Team, and with the approval of the Zion Church Council. Past members who reserved niches while members of Zion maintain their eligibility.

 

4. Reservation for Niches:

A Zion Columbarium niche reservation for inurnment may be made only by those eligible as set forth in Section III of this document. The reservation may not be transferred to any person, except an eligible person as defined in Section III, or back to Zion, without the express written consent of the Columbarium Team. Designation of the person to be inurned may be changed by a request in writing from the holder of the reservation at any time prior to death. A reservation may be surrendered by its holder upon written notification to the Columbarium Team, with 50% of the original fee returned to the reservation holder. Specific niches, identified by number, for the inurnment of cremains may be reserved by any eligible person upon payment of designated fees and execution of required documents at the time of reservation. A Columbarium Niche Reservation and Agreement form, which shows the required fees, is attached to these policies. The Columbarium Team may change these fees anytime in the future upon approval by the Council Members with two thirds vote. This will not affect previously purchased niches. Any niche not previously reserved may be selected by the person making the reservation. The exact location of a prepaid, reserved niche will be recorded in a form such as: “Unit 1, Niche 5.” A chart showing this reservation will be provided upon full payment of fees.

 

5. Access and Removal:

 A container of cremains may be accessed or removed after a written request by a party with legal authority to make such a request, upon such party’s execution of a release agreement, approved by the Columbarium Team, in which the party represents and warrants they have legal authority to access and remove the cremains, and releases Zion, its minister(s), officers, and the Columbarium Team from any and all liability relating to the opening, accessing, or removing of the cremains. If not done at time of inurnment, any expense shall be borne by those requesting such action. All such openings and removals shall be witnessed by two Columbarium Team members and fully documented, only after the Columbarium Team provides written notice to any known survivors.

 

6. Cancellation:

If no inurnment has occurred within five years after the death of the person(s) for whom a Columbarium Niche Reservation and Agreement form has been issued, a certified letter and/or other reasonable efforts will be made to contact known family members. If after 90 days there is no response, the Reservation may terminate upon recommendation of the Columbarium Team.

 

7. Management Finance  

Zion will receive all payments and disburse all expenditures in an account to be selected by the Church Council Treasurer and be recorded in a ledger known as "The Columbarium Fund". Appropriate annual audits and reviews are performed in accordance with the church's regular accounting procedures.

 

8. Records

Zion maintains a basic record of each niche reservation and inurnment in the Columbarium with a duplicate copy sent to the Cemetery Association. The name(s) of the deceased in each niche, the deceased's dates of birth and death, and the deceased's next of kin or legal representative are included therein. It is the responsibility of the deceased legal representative to supply copies of all legal documentation, permits, and/or certificates required by all local or state laws.  An additional copy of these records is maintained off the church grounds in case of unforeseen circumstances. The church also maintains a list of people who have reserved niches or have made arrangements for placement of cremated remains, together with the names of the next of kin or legal representatives of such person(s).

 

9. Addresses:

It is the responsibility of the holder of the reservation to keep the church advised at all times of the current mailing addresses of themselves, the person for whom the niche is reserved, and the next of kin of the designee or legal representative. The holder of the reservation is normally the individual that the church would contact for any reason.

 

10. Inurnment Services:

The inurnment services of cremated remains are created by the Minister(s) in consultation with the family of the deceased. Only ordained ministers that are approved by Zion are authorized to officiate at memorial services. Payment for the services of the Minister and transportation of the cremains to the church are not provided as part of this agreement. The family may also elect not to have a service at the time of inurnment. The containers for the cremated remains of the person(s) to be inurned in the Columbarium are not provided by the church. Each niche may hold one or two urns with cremains as defined in Section I.

 

11. Cost:

The cost of cremation is not covered by any fee paid to the church pursuant to these operating policies. The church does not offer cremation services or cover any engraving cost. No expenses other than those prescribed herein are covered by the prescribed fees. Please see attached pricing sheet for details.

 

 

12. Decorations:

No flowers, flags, decorations, or other memorabilia are permitted inside the Columbarium Niche. Flower arrangements and approved decorations, if desired, can be placed on the niche door by using an approved Niche Flower Vase or flag holder designed to be clamped to the niche door gap. Drilling and the use of adhesives anywhere on the Columbarium or niche door is prohibited. All other decoration rules must follow the cemetery guidelines governed by the Cemetery Association.

 

 

13. Liability:

Release all holders of Columbarium Niche reservations and agreements, on behalf of themselves, their heirs, beneficiaries, successors and assignees, release the Church from all liabilities arising as a result of unauthorized removal of cremains or vandalism of niches and/or their contents. The inclusion of valuables of any kind in the niches is prohibited so as not to invite such vandalism.

 

14. Ownership:

The Columbarium and Niches remain the property of Zion. No real-property right is created or conveyed by the approval of an application or the acceptance of fees. Approval relates only to the use of a niche as provided for herein.

 

 

15. Amendments:

The Columbarium Team must approve all changes or additions to the operating rules and regulations of the Columbarium with the final approval being made by the Zion Council and voted on by the Congregation.

 

 

 

1 Niche	Active Member (Single)	$500.00
1 Niche	Active Member’s Spouse	$500.00
1 Niche	Active Member and Spouse or Biological or Adopted Child (Double)	$750.00
1 Niche	Active Member’s Child (under age 18 living at home or school)	$500.00
1 Niche	Inactive Member (Single)	$850.00
1 Niche	Inactive Member and Spouse (Double)	$1275.00
1 Niche	All Other Approved (Single)	$1000.00
1 Niche	All Other Approved with Spouse (Double)	$1500.00
Each Occurrence	Reopening and closing a niche door after an urn has been placed.	$100.00

 

 

Active Member: An active member is one that is in good standing in accordance with the church constitution. Good standing is actively participating in Worship Services AND a record of contributing financially within the current year or prior year.

 

Inactive Member: An inactive member that was active for 5 years or longer but is no longer active. Exceptions would be that they are inactive due to health reasons.

 

All Other Approved: Confirmed Lutheran Members from other Congregations, People having a relationship with Zion or its members. All non-members must be reviewed and approved by the Columbarium Team.