Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.180 — MI Code / Chapter 450 / Act Act-327-of-1931 / Section 450.180
Ecclesiastical corporations; articles, execution, contents; receivership; unclaimed property, state.
Status: in_force

Sec. 180.

Same; execution and contents of articles; receivership; unclaimed property to escheat to state. Excepting as herein otherwise provided, such articles shall be executed, acknowledged, filed and disposed of in the same manner and with like effect as is prescribed in section 5 of this act. Such articles may contain, among other things, specified in section 179 of this act, any provisions the incorporators may determine upon respecting the church polity or government, and the blank spaces provided for shall be filled in by words appropriate to the particular denomination or corporation being so incorporated. Such society shall not, however, by its articles, by-laws or system of discipline, permit or encourage the teaching of immoral practices or conduct or anything that is contrary to public policy; that violates the sanctity of the marital relations; that will prohibit any member of such society from appealing to the courts of the United States or the courts of this state for the enforcement of personal or property rights; that the by-laws and rules of discipline shall not be subject to civil law or decree; that encourages violating or disregarding any law of the United States or of this state. No provision shall be made in such by-laws or articles permitting such corporation to receive, accept, acquire or endeavor to secure property through fraud, misrepresentation or undue influence under the guise of religious teaching or discipline; that will permit any individual as such and not as an official of said society to acquire and hold the property thereof in his own name, or which permits any official to dictate and construe the rules of discipline or by-laws of such society without the approval of the directing board thereof, or require that such by-laws and rules be approved by him before becoming effective. Whenever proceedings in the nature of quo warranto have been or may hereafter be brought against any association or corporation organized or doing business in this state as a religious or ecclesiastical body, and when it shall appear in the information that such association or corporation has exceeded its powers, misused its franchises and privileges, committed any fraud or deception, has been guilty of any misapplication of funds or property, has secured property or donations through fraud or misrepresentation, has acquired or used property illegally, has been guilty of propagating or teaching immoral or vicious principles or doctrines or has otherwise violated the laws of this state or the United States, the attorney general may, in such proceedings, or in separate proceedings, apply to the same or any other circuit court for a receiver for the property and effects of such association or corporation, and in all such cases the court shall appoint a receiver in like manner and with like effect and powers as in insolvency proceedings as provided for in the judicature act of 1915 and any amendments thereto. All persons having any interest in the property of such association or corporation or who have conveyed, donated or contributed substantially to the funds or property of such association or corporation, may intervene in such proceedings for the purpose of obtaining restitution of such property or their just share thereof, and shall be entitled to prove their claims thereunder according to the rules and practice of the court. Any property, goods or money of such association or corporation, or held in trust by or for it, and not claimed or distributed to the creditors or other claimants whose claims have been duly proved in the proceedings herein authorized, shall escheat to the people of this state and upon the winding up of the receivership shall be conveyed to the state board of escheats, and shall be disposed of by such board as now provided by law for other escheated property.

History: 1931, Act 327, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931; CL 1948, 450.180