New York Religious Corporations Law

Every section of the New York Religious Corporations Law, in order — 337 sections. Source: NY Senate Open Legislation, current through November 4, 2026.

• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 1 — Short title
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 2 — Definitions
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 2-a — Application
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 2-b — Applicability of not-for-profit corporation law
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 3 — Filing and recording certificates of incorporation of religious corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 4 — Property of unincorporated society transferred by its incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 4-a — Age qualifications of voters
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 5 — General powers and duties of trustees of religious corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 5-a — Investment of funds
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 5-b — Any investment of the funds of any religious corporation heretofore made by the trustees thereof shall not be deemed to have been restric...
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 6 — Acquisition of property by religious corporations for branch institutions; establishment, maintenance and management thereof
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 7 — Acquisition of property by religious corporations for cemetery purposes; management thereof
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 7-a — Deeds for cemetery purposes; presumption
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 8 — Lot owners' rights
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 8-a — Reacquisition of a lot, plot or part thereof by a cemetery
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 9 — Removal of human remains from one cemetery of a religious corporation to another cemetery owned by it
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 10 — Acquisition of property by two or more religious corporations for a common parsonage
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 11 — Correction and confirmation of conveyances to religious corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 12 — Sale, mortgage and lease of real property of religious corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 13 — Consolidation or merger of incorporated churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 14 — Judicial investigation of amount of property of religious corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 15 — Corporations with governing authority over, or advisory relations with, churches or synods, or both
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 15-a — Consolidation of incorporated presbyteries
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 15-b — Consolidation or merger of incorporated Presbyterian and Lutheran synods
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 16 — Property of extinct churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 17 — Property of extinct Free Baptist churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 17-a — Property of extinct Seventh Day Baptist churches and Seventh Day Baptist religious societies
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 17-b — Property of extinct Presbyterian churches in connection with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 17-c — Property of Lutheran congregations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 18 — Dissolution of religious corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 19 — Corporations for organizing and maintaining mission churches and Sunday schools
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 20 — Corporations for acquiring parsonages for district superintendents and camp-meeting grounds
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 21 — Corporations for acquiring camp-meeting grounds for the Reformed Methodist denomination
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 21-a — Corporations for acquiring lands for parsonage or camp-meeting purposes for the Free Methodist denomination
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 22 — Establishing and maintaining a home for aged poor
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 23 — Powers of churches created by special laws
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 24 — Government of churches incorporated prior to January first, eighteen hundred and twenty-eight
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 25 — Pastoral relation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 26 — Worship
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 27 — Reservation as to Baptist churches, churches of the United Church of Christ and Congregational Christian churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 28 — Electronic meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 40 — Meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 41 — Certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 42 — Corporate trustees, vestry; powers and duties thereof
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 42-a — Additional powers of the corporate trustees and vestry
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 43 — Annual election and special meetings of incorporated Protestant Episcopal parishes
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 44 — Changing the number of vestrymen of Protestant Episcopal parishes hereafter incorporated
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 45 — Changing date of annual election, number and terms of office of vestrymen and terms of office of churchwardens in Protestant Episcopal ch...
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 46 — Changing the qualifications of voters and the qualifications of wardens and vestrymen
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 47 — Free churches in communion with the Protestant Episcopal church
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 48 — Legacies
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 49 — Eligibility of certain minors as lay delegates and to vote and hold office
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50 — Application for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-aa — Application for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-bb — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-cc — Provisions governing meetings for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-dd — Resolution to be adopted at incorporation meeting
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-ee — Certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-ff — Annual and special corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-gg — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-hh — Changing number of laymen trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-ii — Meetings of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-jj — Vacancies among trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-kk — Rector; vicar; ministers; their appointment, removal and compensation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-ll — Additional qualifications of voters at annual and special corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 50-mm — Transfer of property of extinct parishes and churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 51 — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 51-a — Application for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 52 — Provisions governing meetings for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 52-a — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 53 — Resolution to be adopted at incorporation meeting
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 53-a — Provisions governing meetings for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 54 — Certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 54-a — Rector; vicar; ministers; their appointment, removal and compensation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 55 — Annual and special corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 56 — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 57 — Changing number of laymen trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 58 — Meetings of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 58-a — Vacancies among trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 59 — Rector; vicar; ministers; their appointment, removal and compensation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 59-a — Additional qualifications of voters at annual and special corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 59-b — Transfer of property of extinct parishes and churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 60 — Application of this article
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 61 — Creation and termination of pastoral relation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 62 — Worship
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 63 — Incorporation of unincorporated Presbyterian churches and decision as to system of incorporation and government
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 64 — Changing system of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 65 — Corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 66 — Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualifications of voters thereat
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 67 — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 68 — Changing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 69 — Trustees, their meetings, vacancies and filling thereof, their powers
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 70 — Definitions
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 90 — Incorporation of Roman Catholic churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 91 — Government of incorporated Roman Catholic churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 92 — Division of Roman Catholic parish; disposition of property
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 95 — Incorporation of Christian Orthodox Catholic churches of the Eastern Confession
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 96 — Government of incorporated Christian Orthodox Catholic churches of the Eastern Confession
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 100 — Incorporation of Ruthenian Greek Catholic churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 101 — Government of incorporated Ruthenian Greek Catholic churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 102 — Transfer of other religious organizations to Ruthenian Greek Catholic church; disposition of property
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 105 — Definitions
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 106 — Incorporation of churches of Orthodox Church in America
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 107 — Government of incorporated churches of Orthodox Church in America; powers and duties of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 108 — Reincorporation of existing corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 110 — Decision by a Reformed Dutch or Reformed Presbyterian church as to system of incorporation and government
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 111 — Decision by Lutheran church as to system of incorporation and government
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 112 — Incorporation of Reformed Dutch, Reformed Presbyterian and Evangelical Lutheran churches under this article
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 113 — Consistory of a Reformed church in America; minister, how chosen
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 114 — Reformed churches in America, changing system of choosing trustees; minister, how chosen
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 115 — Reformed Presbyterian churches, changing system of choosing trustees; pew rents and minister's salary
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 116 — Evangelical Lutheran church, changing system of electing trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 130 — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 131 — The meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 132 — The certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 133 — Time, place and notice of corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 134 — Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualifications of voters thereat
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 135 — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 136 — Changing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 137 — Meetings of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 138 — The creation and filling of vacancies among trustees of such churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 139 — Control of trustees by corporate meetings of such churches; salary of minister
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 140 — Transfer of property to Baptist corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 160 — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 161 — The meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 162 — The certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 163 — Time, place and notice of corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 164 — Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualifications of voters
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 165 — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 166 — Changing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 167 — Meetings of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 168 — Vacancies among trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 169 — Limitation of powers of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 169-a — Application for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 169-b — Notice of meeting for incorporation and provisions governing meetings for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 169-c — Certification of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 169-d — Government; powers and duties of the trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 169-e — Reincorporation of existing corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 170 — Election and salary of ministers
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 171 — Transfer of property
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 172 — Application of this article
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 175 — Application for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 176 — Notice of meeting for incorporation and provisions governing meetings for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 177 — Certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 178 — Government; powers and duties of the trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 179 — Reincorporation of existing corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 180 — Corporation, how formed
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 181 — Rights, powers and limitations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 182 — Vacancies in boards of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 182-a — Increasing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 183 — Seats and pews to be free
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 184 — Application of this article
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 185 — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 186 — Meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 187 — Certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 188 — Time, place and notice of corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 189 — Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualifications of voters thereat
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 189-a — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 189-b — Changing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 189-c — Meetings of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 190 — Application of this article
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 191 — Notice of meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 192 — The meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 193 — The certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 194 — Time, place and notice of corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 195 — Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualification of voters thereat
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 196 — Changing date of annual corporate meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 197 — Changing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 198 — Meetings of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 199 — Vacancies among trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 200 — Control of trustees by corporate meetings; salaries of ministers
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 201-a — Incorporation of the Religious Society of Friends
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 202 — Trusts for Shakers and Friends
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 203 — Conveyance or incumbrance of trust property of Friends
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 204-b — Change of name of churches and affiliated and subsidiary organizations of the church of the United Brethren in Christ and the Evangelical...
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 205 — Presiding officer
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 206 — Termination and dissolution of churches of the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Inc
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 207 — The number of trustees of Jewish congregations and voting by proxy at certain meetings thereof
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 208 — Consolidation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 209 — Effect of consolidation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 210 — Incorporation of church connected with supreme council of Independent Associated Spiritualists
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 211 — Incorporation of church in connection with Spiritual Science Mother Church, Inc
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 220 — Joint meeting for the purposes of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 221 — Government of incorporated union churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225 — Application of this article
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-a — Organization of a free Methodist church
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-b — Meeting for incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-c — Certificate of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-d — Amendment of articles of incorporation
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-e — Effect upon existing corporations
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-f — Annual election of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-g — Changing number of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-h — Vacancies in board of trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-i — Trustee meetings
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-j — Powers of incorporated societies
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-k — Powers and duties of the trustees
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-l — Conveyance of property
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-m — Property of extinct churches
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-n — Corporations for acquiring property for special religious purposes
• N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 225-o — Saving clause