N.Y. Relig. Corp. Law § 51-a — Application for incorporation

§ 51-a. Application for incorporation. An unincorporated congregation of the Holy Orthodox Church in America, or a congregation acknowledging the historic apostolic eastern confession and order in this state, may apply to the ecclesiastical administrator of American Patriarchal Synod, Holy Orthodox Church for permission and sanction to incorporate such church. When such permission aforesaid has been obtained in writing over the signature and seal of such patriarch, such church may become an incorporated church by executing, acknowledging and filing a certificate of incorporation as hereinafter provided.

Any religious order, biblical, seminary for the preparation of candidates for the ministry, leading to ordination and the granting of credentials of ecclesiastical degrees of orders in sacred theology, or religious society established for evangelical efforts or the relief of the poor and needy, which is intended to be an auxiliary organization of the Holy Orthodox Church of the American Patriarchate, where a chapel for the conduct of worship is provided, shall be deemed a congregation to all intents and purposes, and may be incorporated in the manner prescribed in this article as a congregation of the American Patriarchal Orthodox Church.