reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NY Rel Corps L § 220 (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11 - Union Churches 220 - Joint Meeting for the Purposes of Incorporation.

§  220.  Joint  meeting for the purposes of incorporation. Two or more   unincorporated churches, which separately agree on a plan of  union  and   determine  to  meet  together for the purpose of being incorporated as a   union church, may be incorporated as a union church in pursuance of  the   provisions  of  article  ten,  and thereafter such union church shall be   governed by the general provisions of such article, as near as  may  be,   except  as  otherwise  provided  in this article. A notice of such joint   meeting shall be given to the congregation of each church, in  pursuance   of  the provisions of article ten of this chapter, relating to notice of   meeting for incorporations, in every respect as if it were a notice of a   meeting for  the  separate  incorporation  of  such  church  under  such   article,  except  that  the notice shall state in substance that a joint   meeting of such unincorporated churches, which shall be specified in the   notice, will be held for the purpose of incorporating such churches as a   union church,  and  electing  trustees  thereof  at  a  time  and  place   specified  in  the notice, which place may be the usual place of worship   of either of such churches or any  other  reasonably  convenient  place.   Such  notice  must  be  signed by at least six persons from each of such   churches who would be authorized to sign a notice  for  the  meeting  of   each  church,  respectively,  for  the purpose of incorporating it under   such article.The provisions of article  ten  hereof  shall  be  applicable  to  the   organization  and  conduct of such meeting, the matters to be determined   upon and the certificate of  incorporation  to  be  executed  and  filed   accordingly,  except  that  the  presiding officer of such joint meeting   shall be the oldest person present at such meeting who would be entitled   to preside at a meeting of  either  of  such  churches  singly  for  the   purposes  of incorporation in pursuance of such article. All persons who   would be qualified to vote at such meeting of either  of  such  churches   held  singly,  shall  be qualified voters at such joint meeting, and the   number of trustees of  the  union  church  after  incorporation,  to  be   selected  from each such church, may be agreed on by such unincorporated   churches, and the trustees shall be selected by each  of  such  churches   accordingly.The  certificate  of  incorporation  shall set forth the plan of union   agreed on and the number of trustees of the incorporated union church to   be selected by each unincorporated church.
NY Rel Corps L § 225 (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225 - Application of This Article.

§  225.  Application  of  this  article.  This article applies only to   churches, societies, districts, conferences, and such  other  authorized   religious organizations of the Free Methodist Church of North America as   are or shall be situated in the state of New York.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-A (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-A - Organization of a Free Methodist Church.

§  225-a.  Organization of a free Methodist church. It shall be lawful   for any number of persons, not less than six, with the  consent  of  the   district  superintendent of the district in which the proposed church is   to be located, to organize a free Methodist church and  to  procure  its   incorporation.  Said  church, when so organized, shall be subject in all   matters  of  church  government  and  ecclesiastical   polity   to   the   discipline,  rules,  usages  and  ministerial  appointments  of the Free   Methodist Church of North America, as from time to time  authorized  and   declared  by  the  general  conference  of  said  church  and the annual   conference within the bounds of which such church may be situated.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-B (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-B - Meeting for Incorporation.

§  225-b.  Meeting  for  incorporation. 1. Notice of a meeting for the   purpose of incorporating an unincorporated free Methodist  church  shall   be  in  writing  and  shall  state  in substance, that a meeting of such   unincorporated church will be held at its usual place of  worship  at  a   specified  day  and hour, for the purpose of incorporating such a church   and selecting a name therefor and electing trustees thereof.2. Such notice must be signed by at least six members, either in  full   connection or on probation, of the local society of full age and in good   and  regular  standing.  This notice shall be publicly read at a regular   meeting of such unincorporated church for public worship, at  least  ten   days,  and  not  more  than thirty days, before the date of such meeting   upon Sunday, if such service be held on Sunday, by the pastor or by  one   of  the  signers  thereof;  and  a  copy  of such notice shall be posted   conspicuously on the outside of the  main  entrance  to  such  place  of   worship at least fifteen days before the date of such meeting.3.  At the meeting for incorporation held in pursuance of such notice,   the following persons, and no others, shall be qualified voters, to wit:   all persons of full age, who are then members of such church, either  in   full  connection  or on probation, and in good and regular standing. The   presence of the majority of such  qualified  voters,  at  least  six  in   number,  shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a quorum of such meeting,   without which no action can be taken. Each action of  the  meeting  upon   any  matter  or question shall be decided by a majority of the qualified   voters present and voting thereon. At  such  meeting  the  pastor  shall   preside,  or  in  the absence of a pastor or in case of his declining to   preside, any qualified voter may be elected to  preside.  The  presiding   officer  shall  be the judge of the qualifications of voters, subject to   appeal to the vote of the members present whose qualifications as voters   are not challenged, and shall receive the votes  cast  and  declare  the   result of the same.4.  If  such  meeting  shall decide to incorporate such unincorporated   church,  it  shall  also  decide  upon  the   name   of   the   proposed   incorporation, the number of trustees thereof, which shall be three, six   or  nine.    Such  meeting  shall elect by ballot the number of trustees   decided upon, at least two-thirds of  whom  shall  be  members  in  full   connection  of  the  free  Methodist  church  and  in  good  and regular   standing. One-third of these shall hold office until  the  first  annual   election  of  trustees  thereafter,  one-third  until  the second annual   election, and one-third until the third annual election.5. The first annual meeting for the election of trustees shall be held   at the date fixed for the annual society meeting which shall  be  within   three months prior to the session of the annual conference.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-C (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-C - Certificate of Incorporation.

§  225-c.  Certificate  of  incorporation. 1. The presiding officer of   such a meeting and at least two other persons present and voting thereat   shall be appointed by such meeting to execute  and  acknowledge,  before   any  person authorized to take acknowledgment of deeds, a certificate of   incorporation whereby they shall agree to be governed by the discipline,   rules and usages of the Free Methodist Church of North America. To  such   certificate  of  incorporation  there  shall  be  attached a certificate   signed by the district superintendent of  the  district  in  which  said   church is to be located, stating that the said church is incorporated by   and with the consent of said district superintendent.2.  This  certificate  of  incorporation  shall  contain the following   items: The name of said church; the township, village or city,  and  the   county  in  which said church shall be located; and agreement to worship   and labor together according to the discipline, rules and usages of  the   Free  Methodist  Church  of North America; the statement that there were   six or more qualified voters present at  the  meeting  where  they  were   elected  and  this  act  of  incorporation was authorized; the names and   respective periods of office of the trustees elected; the place and date   of said meeting for incorporation; and the signatures and residences  of   those   authorized  to  execute  and  acknowledge  this  certificate  of   incorporation.3. This certificate of incorporation shall be executed  in  duplicate.   One  of  such duplicate copies shall be retained by such corporation and   one copy shall be recorded in the office of  the  county  clerk  of  the   county  where such corporation is formed. On filing such certificate the   members either in  full  connection  or  on  probation  of  such  church   qualified to vote at such meeting and who shall thereafter, from time to   time,  be  qualified voters at the corporate meetings thereof shall be a   corporation by the name stated in  such  certificate,  and  the  persons   therein  stated  to  be  elected  trustees  of  such church shall be the   trustees thereof,  for  the  terms  for  which  they  were  respectively   elected, and until their successors are elected.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-D (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-D - Amendment of Articles of Incorporation.

§ 225-d. Amendment of articles of incorporation. 1. It shall be lawful   for any incorporated church coming under the provisions of this article,   by  a  two-thirds  vote of the members present and voting at a regularly   called society meeting, to alter or amend its articles of  incorporation   in  any  manner not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, or   the book of discipline of the Free Methodist Church  of  North  America;   and  such  alteration  or  amendment  shall  become  operative when said   society  shall  execute  and  acknowledge  said  amended   articles   of   incorporation  as  provided for in section two hundred and twenty-five-c   of this article, and with an attached  certificate  of  consent  by  the   district superintendent as provided in said section.2. Every free Methodist church organized and incorporated in the state   of  New  York,  after  this article takes effect, shall be organized and   incorporated under its provisions and be subject thereto.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-E (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-E - Effect Upon Existing Corporations.

§  225-e.  Effect  upon  existing  corporations.  Every free Methodist   church heretofore incorporated in the state of  New  York  shall,  three   months  after  this  article  takes effect, automatically come under its   provisions, unless in the meantime it shall elect by a  two-thirds  vote   of  all its members in full connection to remain under the provisions of   the  general  or  special  law  applicable  thereto  at  such  time.   A   certificate  of  such  vote shall be filed in the office of the clerk of   the county in which the principal place of worship of  such  corporation   is  located  and  shall  be  recorded by such clerk in the book in which   certificates of religious corporations are recorded pursuant to law.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-F (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-F - Annual Election of Trustees.

§  225-f.  Annual election of trustees. 1. Trustees of an incorporated   free Methodist church shall be elected at  the  annual  society  meeting   held  within  three months prior to the session of the annual conference   to which the society belongs.  Notice of such meeting shall be  publicly   announced  at  a  regular meeting of such incorporated church for public   worship upon Sunday, if such service be held on Sunday, and at least ten   days, and not more than thirty days, before said meeting shall be  held.   This notice shall be given by the pastor, the officiating minister or an   officer  of  the  church.  At the said annual society meeting the pastor   shall preside, or in  the  absence  of  a  pastor  or  in  case  of  his   declining, any qualified voter therein may be elected to preside. During   the election of the trustees the following persons, and no others, shall   be  qualified  voters,  to wit: all persons who are then members in full   connection or on probation of such church in good and regular  standing.   Said  election  shall  be by ballot and on a majority vote, and at least   six persons qualified to vote thereat shall be necessary to constitute a   quorum. The trustees shall be so elected that the office of one-third of   them shall continue for  three  years,  one-third  for  two  years,  and   one-third  for  one  year. At least two-thirds of said trustees shall be   members in full connection of the free  Methodist  church  in  good  and   regular  standing.  All  trustees  shall  hold  their office until their   successors are elected, unless their office shall terminate as  provided   for in section two hundred and twenty-five-h of this article.2. A special corporate meeting of any such church may be called by the   trustees  thereof  on  their  own  motion,  and  must be called upon the   written request of at least six qualified voters  of  such  church,  and   shall  be  called  and notice thereof given in the same manner as for an   annual corporate meeting.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-G (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-G - Changing Number of Trustees.

§  225-g.  Changing number of trustees. An incorporated church may, at   its annual meeting where trustees are elected, by vote change the number   of its trustees to three, six or nine by adding more trustees, one-third   of which shall be elected for three years, one-third for two years,  and   one-third  for  one  year;  or  by  voting to discontinue the offices of   certain specified trustees as they expire, one-third of said offices  to   be  discontinued  each year, until the number left is the number decided   upon. Such changes in the board of trustees shall always provide that at   least two-thirds of the trustees shall be members in full connection  of   the  free  Methodist church in good and regular standing. No such change   shall affect the terms of the trustees then in office,  but  each  shall   hold  office  until  his  full  term  has  expired, unless his office is   terminated according to section two hundred and  twenty-five-h  of  this   article.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-H (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-H - Vacancies in Board of Trustees.

§  225-h.  Vacancies  in  board  of  trustees.  If any trustee of such   incorporated church declines to act, resigns or dies; or, having been  a   member  of  such  church,  ceases  to be a member; or removes beyond the   bounds of the circuit in which he is elected, his office shall be vacant   and a special corporate meeting may be called to fill that vacancy until   the next annual  society  meeting  of  such  church  when  trustees  are   elected,  at which meeting the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired   term.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-I (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-I - Trustee Meetings.

§  225-i.  Trustee  meetings.  1.  Meetings  of  the  trustees  of  an   incorporated free Methodist church shall be called by  giving  at  least   forty-eight  hours'  notice  thereof  personally  or  by mail to all the   trustees, and such notice may be given by the pastor, the  secretary  of   the  board  of  trustees  or  by  any  two  of  the trustees, but by the   unanimous consent of the trustees a meeting may be held without previous   notice thereof. The pastor may preside at a trustee meeting and  in  his   absence  the  senior  trustee  in  service, or some member, the board of   trustees elects for that purpose, shall be chairman. A majority  of  the   whole  number  of trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction   of business at any meeting lawfully convened.2. The effect of a tie vote creating a deadlock shall be to carry  the   question involved (with all pending questions appertaining thereto) over   to  the next sitting or meeting of the board. In case of such a deadlock   extending beyond three successive sittings or meetings of the  board  of   trustees, the whole matter involved shall be settled in a meeting of the   corporate society.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-J (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-J - Powers of Incorporated Societies.

§  225-j.  Powers  of  incorporated societies. 1. An incorporated free   Methodist church may, under  restrictions  hereinafter  provided,  sell,   mortgage,  or  otherwise dispose of or encumber its real estate, but not   for current expenses.2. Said corporation shall at all times permit such ministers belonging   to the free Methodist  church  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  duly   authorized  by  the  general  conference of said church or by the annual   conference, within whose bounds the said corporation may be,  to  preach   and  expound  God's  Holy  Word  therein;  and  shall permit pastors and   district superintendents duly appointed, to execute  the  discipline  of   said free Methodist church and to administer the sacraments therein.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-K (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-K - Powers and Duties of the Trustees.

§ 225-k. Powers and duties of the trustees. 1. The trustees shall have   the  custody  of  all the temporalities and property, real and personal,   belonging to the corporation and of the revenues  therefrom,  and  shall   administer  the same in accordance with the discipline, rules and usages   of the corporation and of the Free Methodist Church  of  North  America;   but  shall  have  no  control  of  funds  raised  for  pastoral support,   benevolent  enterprises  or  any  other  purpose  save  those   directly   connected with the property of the church.2.  A  society  meeting of an incorporated free Methodist church whose   trustees are elective as such, may give direction, not inconsistent with   law, as to the manner in which any of the temporal affairs of the church   shall be administered by the trustees thereof; and such directions shall   be followed by the trustees. The trustees shall have no  power,  without   the  consent  of  such  a society meeting, to incur debts beyond what is   necessary for the care of the property of the corporation.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-L (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-L - Conveyance of Property.

§  225-l.  Conveyance of property. Whenever it may become necessary or   advisable to mortgage or dispose of any church  property,  the  trustees   may mortgage or sell and convey the same by first securing the authority   of  the  society  for  such  sale  or  mortgage  and the approval of the   district superintendent of the district in which the church is  located,   and  obtaining leave of the supreme or county court therefor pursuant to   the provisions of this chapter; provided that in all cases the  proceeds   of  such  sale or mortgage shall be used either for the payment of debts   or for the purchase or improvement of property for  the  same  uses  and   deeded to the same corporation; or if not so used, shall be held subject   to  the  order of the annual conference in whose territory such property   may be situated. Provided however that, if the deed of the  property  to   be  sold  shall convey the property to the local corporate society to be   held in trust for the use and benefit of  the  membership  of  the  Free   Methodist  Church  of  North America, it shall also be necessary for the   trustees to secure the consent of the free Methodist general  conference   of North America, or in the intervals of its sessions, of such person or   persons  as  are  authorized  by  said  general conference to grant such   permission, in order to mortgage or sell and convey such property.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-M (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-M - Property of Extinct Churches.

§  225-m.  Property  of  extinct  churches. 1. Any incorporated annual   conference or other governing body of  the  free  Methodist  church  may   decide  that a church society in connection with it or over which it has   ecclesiastical jurisdiction, has become extinct, if it  has  failed  for   two consecutive years next prior thereto, to maintain religious services   according  to the discipline, customs and usages of such governing body,   or has had less than ten resident attending  members  making  annual  or   regular  contributions  towards  its support, and may take possession of   the temporalities and property belonging to such  church,  or  religious   society,  and manage the same; or may, in pursuance of the provisions of   this act relating to the disposition of real property by free  Methodist   corporations, sell or dispose of the same and apply the proceeds thereof   to any of the purposes to which the property of such governing religious   body  is  devoted,  and  it  shall not divert such property to any other   object. For the purpose of obtaining a record title to the land and  the   church  edifice,  or  other  buildings  thereon,  by  such  incorporated   governing body, the surviving trustee or trustees of said extinct church   or if there be no surviving trustee, then a  surviving  member  of  said   extinct church, may, without a consideration being paid therefor by such   incorporated  governing body, convey to it said land and church edifice,   or other buildings thereon, subject, however, to an order of the supreme   or county court based upon a petition  reciting  that  said  church  has   become  extinct;  the name of its surviving trustee or trustees; and the   names of its members (who must have given their consent to the making of   said conveyance). Upon the recital of said facts in said  petition,  the   court shall have jurisdiction to grant an order allowing said conveyance   to  be  made  without  a consideration; and should there be no surviving   members, as well as no surviving trustee of said  extinct  church,  said   petition  may be made by an officer of said incorporated governing body,   in which event the court, upon the recital  of  said  fact,  shall  have   jurisdiction  to appoint a suitable person as trustee for the purpose of   making said conveyance.
NY Rel Corps L § 225-O (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 11-A - Free Methodist Churches. 225-O - Saving Clause.

§  225-o. Saving clause. Article ten of this chapter is not applicable   to corporations of the free  Methodist  church  incorporated  under  the   provisions of this article.
NY Rel Corps L § 260 (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 12 - Laws Repealed; When to Take Effect 260 - Laws Repealed.

§  260.  Laws  repealed. Of the laws enumerated in the schedule hereto   annexed, that portion specified in the last column is hereby repealed.
NY Rel Corps L § 261 (2021)
2021 New York Laws RCO - Religious Corporations Article 12 - Laws Repealed; When to Take Effect 261 - When to Take Effect.

§   261.   When  to  take  effect.  This  chapter  shall  take  effect   immediately.