(This section is divided into two parts: the Policy, followed by the Agreement)

Following is the policy of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd Kingwood,

Texas, regarding the use and administration of the Columbarium:

I.  ELIGIBLE PERSONS:

The Columbarium is intended for use by communicants of The Episcopal Church of the

Good Shepherd who have been members for one or more years and their immediate

families. For purposes of this policy, the immediate family of a member shall include

only minor children living in the same home or away at college a spouse or any other relative living permanently in the member’s home.  The Rector may waive these requirements with approval of the Vestry.

II. PLACEMENT OF ASHES:

The Columbarium is available to eligible persons on a space available basis. Space may not be reserved in advance of the death of an eligible person. Ashes must be placed in the Columbarium in a heavy duty vinyl container of standard size and shape provided by the Crematory and approved by the Rector. Each container must be affixed with a label which properly identifies the remains. The ashes may be placed in an urn or other vessel, during the funeral service subject to the approval of the Rector. However, the ashes must be placed in the standard sized and shaped container before the ashes may be placed in the Columbarium. Since the Columbarium is constructed as one common area, no particular space may be chosen for placement of the ashes. In addition, ashes may not be placed in the Columbarium until an agreement has been executed in a form approved by the Vestry.

III. MARKERS:

The name of each person whose ashes are placed in the Columbarium will be inscribed on an individual name plate, along with the year of birth and death. This plate is attached to the memorial plaque located on the outside of the Columbarium The name Plate will be the only individual marker or memorial permitted in the Columbarium.

IV. FLOWERS:

Flowers may be placed in the area of the columbarium, subject to the prior approval of the Rector, or his delegate.

V. ADMINISTRATION:

The Rector, or his delegate shall be responsible for receiving requests for interment in the columbarium, preparing name plates and arranging for placement of ashes in the columbarium. The Rector is authorized to sign the agreement concerning Columbarium use in the form approved by the Vestry. Any changes in the form of the agreement must be approved by the vestry before the agreement is signed by the Rector.

VI. CHURCH PROPERTY:

The columbarium is Church property. Spaces in the columbarium are not for sale but rather are provided without cost to eligible persons as a ministry of the Church.

VII. INTERPRETATION AND AMENDMENT OF THIS POLICY:

The vestry shall be responsible for the administration and interpretation of this policy, subject to those matters which have been delegated to the Rector.  The Vestry may amend modify or revoke all or any part of this policy at any time.

VIII. Amendments:

Per vestry minutes February 21, 1995:  Tom Marrou moved that the Rector and

Rev. 1-97

AGREEMENT CONCERNING PLACING OF LAST REMAINS IN THE COLUMBARIUM

Name of Person __________________________________________________

A columbarium ("Columbarium") is presently located in the nave of the Church building of The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (“Good Shepherd"), 2929

Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, Texas.

I. PURPOSE:

This agreement sets forth certain limited rights with respect to placing the cremated

remains of the person designated above in the Columbarium.

II. PLACEMENT OF REMAINS:

It is recognized that the Columbarium is constructed as one common area and that no

particular space may be chosen for placement of ashes .Ashes must be placed in the

Columbarium in a heavy duty vinyl container of standard size and shape, provided by the

crematory and approved by the Rector of Good Shepherd. The container must be affixed

with a label which properly identifies the remains of the person.

III. COST OF LIMITED MEMORIAL:

The Columbarium is provided to eligible persons free of cost as a ministry of Good

Shepherd.

IV. MARKERS:

The name of the person whose remains are interred in the Columbarium shall be inscribed on an individual name plate along with the person's year of birth and death. The plate will be attached to a memorial plaque located on the outside of the Columbarium. The name plate will be the only individual marker or memorial permitted in the Columbarium.

V. RIGHT TO ABANDON COLUMBARIUM:

The right is expressly reserved to convert at any time the Columbarium to another use,

either prior to or after remains are placed in the Columbarium. Any remains in the

Columbarium at such time will be caused to be removed by the Episcopal Church

Council of the Diocese of Texas (“Church Corporation") with the advice and consent of the Bishop or ecclesiastic authority of the Diocese of the Episcopal Church in which the

Church is located (the "Diocese") to a location selected by the Church Corporation,

including but not limited to, any property owned by the Church Corporation or the

Diocese or any parish or mission congregation thereof, or in the alternative, in the Gulf of Mexico beyond the twelve mile coastal limits of the United States of America or in the alternative, in any other columbarium.

VI. NOT A PERPETUAL CARE CEMETERY:

It is expressly recognized that the Columbarium is neither a perpetual care cemetery, a

permanent maintenance cemetery or a free care cemetery. Nothing in this agreement

should be construed as to requiring Good Shepherd, Church Corporation or the Diocese to maintain the Columbarium as a perpetual care cemetery a permanent maintenance cemetery, or as a free care cemetery, and nothing in this agreement should be construed as to requiring the person signing this agreement on behalf of the deceased to contribute consideration for the perpetual care or permanent maintenance of the Columbarium.

VII. NO DEDICATION:

It is expressly recognized that neither the Columbarium nor any part of the facilities of

Good Shepherd has been dedicated as a cemetery or for any purpose relating to the

placing of remains and is not a dedicated cemetery and will not be so dedicated. Nothing in this agreement should be construed as to requiring the dedication of the Columbarium or any part of the facilities of Good Shepherd as a cemetery or for any other purpose.

VIII. RELEASE:

The undersigned hereby on behalf of the deceased and all next of kin, releases and

saves harmless Good Shepherd and its Vestry, staff and clergy, the Diocese and its

Bishops, the Church Corporation and its Board of Directors, such aforementioned

natural persons in both their individual and official capacities of and from any claims, demands, liability and causes of action whatsoever by reason of their administration

maintenance, conversion, conveyance or alienation of the Columbarium or operation or abandonment of the Columbarium including the sole or concurrent negligence or strict liability of any of the aforementioned entities or persons.

IX REGULATIONS:

The Columbarium, its use, the procedures for placing remains, and all aspects of its

operation are subject to the continuing control and regulation of Good Shepherd

Church, the Church Corporation and the Diocese.

X. BINDING EFFECT:

Each and every covenant hereunder shall be binding upon each party's heirs, executors,

administrators, successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of each party's heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns. This agreement is signed by the next of kin of the deceased the time the remains of the deceased are placed in the Columbarium and such person represents it has consent of all next of kin to enter into this agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties execute this agreement this the __________ day of __________________A.D.

NEXT OF KIN  
BY: ____________________________    

Relationship of next of kin executing this agreement:

___________________________________________

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

BY: _______________________________ 

This agreement should be signed by the next of kin in the following priority at the time such cremated remains are placed in the Columbarium:

Spouse

Children, if spouse not alive

Parents, if children and spouse not alive

Siblings, if all of above not alive

Siblings decedents if all of above not alive

Grandparents if, all of above not alive

Grandparent decedent if all of above not alive

Rev. l-97