reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 16:10A-10 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:10A-10 - Merger of two or more local churches

16:10A-10. Merger of two or more local churches  Any 2 or more local churches of The United Methodist Church in this State may resolve to merge and become a single church in accordance with a plan of merger proposed by the charge conference of each of the merging churches. The terms and conditions of such plan shall be stated in a resolution of each such charge conference adopted by a majority vote of the members having a right to vote who are present at a meeting of said members. Such resolution, which shall include the name under which such merger shall take place, shall be submitted to a meeting of the members of each merging church, called by the pastor or the charge conference or the district superintendent, provided that not less than 10 days notice of each meeting and its main purpose shall be given to the members of each church in writing or from the pulpit or in the weekly bulletin. If a majority of the members of each church having the right to vote, who are present and vote at such meetings, consent thereto, a certificate thereof shall be made, executed and verified by the chairman and secretary of each such meeting, and approved by the district superintendent or superintendents. The certificates as so executed, verified and approved on behalf of each of the merging churches shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county or counties where such churches are located and in the office of the Secretary of State. Thereupon such churches shall be merged, and the merged church shall, by the name so adopted, be entitled to and invested with all the real and personal property, rights, powers, privileges and franchises belonging to each church so merging, subject to all its debts, obligations and liabilities. Title to the church property of the merging churches shall be held in the trustees of the merged church elected in accordance with the provisions of this act. L.1968, c. 235, s. 9, eff. July 31, 1968.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:10A-11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:10A-11 - Real property of local church; sale, transfer or mortgage; procedure and conditions

16:10A-11. Real property of local church; sale, transfer or mortgage; procedure and conditions  Any real property owned by a local church of The United Methodist Church, or in which such local church has an interest, shall be held, used, kept and maintained by such local church subject to the Discipline and usage of The United Methodist Church as from time to time authorized and declared by the general conference and by the annual conference within whose bounds such property is located. Any such real property may be sold, transferred or mortgaged by such local church only in accordance with the following procedure and conditions: a. Notice of the proposed action, and the date, time and place of a meeting at which it is to be considered, shall be given to the members of such church in writing or from the pulpit or in the weekly bulletin at least 10 days prior to such meeting. Such notice shall be given by the pastor, the charge conference or the district superintendent. b. A resolution authorizing the proposed action shall be presented to the charge conference of such church. If adopted, such resolution shall be presented for adoption by the members of such church; provided, however, that a vote by the members of the church shall not be required for the sale of property which was conveyed to such church for sale and use of the proceeds for a specific purpose. c. Such resolution shall authorize and direct the board of trustees of such church to take all necessary steps to carry out the action authorized, and to cause to be executed any written instruments required therefor. d. The board of trustees, at any regular or special meeting, shall take the action so directed and authorized, and adopt such resolutions as may be necessary or required by law. e. Written consent to the proposed action by the pastor of such local church and the district superintendent shall be required, and shall be affixed to the instrument of sale, conveyance, transfer or mortgage. L.1968, c. 235, s. 10, eff. July 31, 1968.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:10A-12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:10A-12 - Proceeds from sale or mortgage not available for current church expense

16:10A-12. Proceeds from sale or mortgage not available for current church expense  The real estate on which a church building or parsonage of a local church of The United Methodist Church is located shall not be mortgaged or encumbered to provide for the current expense of such church, nor shall the principal of the proceeds of the sale of any such property be so used. L.1968, c. 235, s. 11, eff. July 31, 1968.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:10A-13 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:10A-13 - Written acknowledged consent to sale or transfer of real property; effect

16:10A-13. Written acknowledged consent to sale or transfer of real property; effect  The written acknowledged consent by the appropriate district superintendent to any sale, conveyance or transfer of real property by a local church of, or by an organization connected with, The United Methodist Church shall constitute a release and discharge of such property from any right, title or interest of The United Methodist Church, and in the case of a mortgage such consent shall constitute a formal recognition of the priority of the mortgage lien, whether or not the deed of conveyance to such local church or organization contained a trust clause in favor of The United Methodist Church. L.1968, c. 235, s. 12, eff. July 31, 1968.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:10A-14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:10A-14 - Abandonment of local church

16:10A-14. Abandonment of local church  All real and personal property belonging to or held in trust for any local church of The United Methodist Church that has or shall become abandoned shall vest in and become the property of that annual conference of The United Methodist Church in which such local church was located. A local church of The United Methodist Church shall be regarded as abandoned when its membership is so reduced that it has not sufficient members to fill its offices, and when it has ceased to hold its regular meetings and to keep its relation with any charge having regular connection with an annual conference of The United Methodist Church for a period of 2 consecutive years. The annual conference of The United Methodist Church in which any such abandoned local church was located may, in pursuance of a resolution by it, sell the property of any such abandoned local church and convey the same to the purchaser by deed in its corporate name. L.1968, c. 235, s. 13, eff. July 31, 1968. Amended by L.1973, c. 269, s. 5, eff. Nov. 29, 1973.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:10A-15 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:10A-15 - Voters; qualifications; majority vote

16:10A-15. Voters; qualifications; majority vote  To be qualified to vote at a meeting of the charge conference, or at a meeting of the membership of a local church of, or organization connected with, The United Methodist Church, when such meeting is held for the purpose of incorporation, alteration or amendment of the certificate of incorporation, merger, election of trustees, or any action relating to the property of such church or organization, a person shall be a full member of such church or organization who is not less than 18 years of age. The presiding officer of any such meeting shall be the judge of the qualifications of voters, subject to appeal to the vote of the members present whose qualifications are not challenged. Such presiding officer shall receive the votes cast and declare the result of same. Unless otherwise provided by this act, or by the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of such local church or organization, elections and approval of actions shall be by a majority vote of the qualified voters present and voting. In elections of trustees a written individual ballot shall be used if so directed by vote of the members present, but cumulative voting shall be prohibited. L.1968, c. 235, s. 14, eff. July 31, 1968. Amended by L.1973, c. 269, s. 6, eff. Nov. 29, 1973.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-1 - Incorporation; election of trustees; tenure

16:11-1. Incorporation; election of trustees; tenure  Any Christian congregation connected with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, not having an incorporated board of trustees, may elect and incorporate a board of trustees in the following manner: Any 7 or more members of the congregation, male or female, 21 years of age, may sign a written notice of a business meeting of the congregation to decide whether trustees shall be elected and incorporated, and to elect such trustees if so decided. The notice shall be conspicuously posted at the main entrance of the usual place of meeting for public worship at least 10 days previous to the date of the meeting mentioned in the notice. If, at such meeting, the congregation shall decide by resolution to elect and incorporate a board of trustees, they shall then by resolution determine the number of trustees to be elected, which number shall be 3 or any multiple of 3, and the name by which the incorporated board shall be known. Thereupon the congregation shall, by a plurality of the votes cast by those of its members, male or female, 21 years of age, who have within the 3 months next preceding contributed toward the support of the gospel in that congregation, elect, from such members, 1/3 of the whole number of trustees to serve until the first succeeding annual business meeting, 1/3 until the second succeeding annual business meeting, and 1/3 until the third succeeding annual business meeting, but a majority of the whole number of trustees shall at all times be members of the church in good and regular standing. At each succeeding annual business meeting of the congregation, successors of the class of trustees whose terms are then expiring shall be elected from such members of the congregation as aforesaid to serve until the third annual business meeting after the election of such successors. Amended by L.1964, c. 270, s. 1.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-2 - Certificate of incorporation; contents; acknowledgment; recording

16:11-2. Certificate of incorporation; contents; acknowledgment; recording  Such board of trustees shall make, sign and seal a certificate of incorporation as soon as possible after the first election, setting forth: a. The location of the usual place of meeting for public worship of the congregation; b. The names of the trustees elected at the first election and their respective terms of office; and c. The name chosen by the congregation by which the board of trustees shall be known. This certificate shall be acknowledged by each trustee before such officer and in such manner as may be required by law for the acknowledgment of deeds of lands, a certificate of which acknowledgment shall be indorsed in writing on the certificate of incorporation by the officer taking the same. The certificate, so acknowledged, shall then be recorded in the office of the clerk of the county in which the congregation's usual place of meeting for public worship is located and shall then be filed and recorded in the office of the secretary of state, for which services the county clerk and the secretary of state shall be respectively entitled to the fees provided in section 22:2-19 and section 22:4-1 of the title Fees and Costs. Thereupon such board of trustees and their successors shall be a corporation by the name set forth in such certificate.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-3 - Powers; sale, conveyance or mortgage; authorization by members

16:11-3. Powers; sale, conveyance or mortgage; authorization by members  The congregation may, at any annual business meeting or at a special business meeting duly called for that purpose, adopt by-laws for the management of the temporal affairs of the congregation and the election of trustees, not inconsistent with this article. Every such incorporated board of trustees may annually elect from their number a president and a secretary and may make and execute such contracts as the congregation by its by-laws or resolutions may from time to time authorize. Such board shall also have all the powers enumerated in section 16:1-4 of this title, except that no sale or conveyance of any real estate held by such trustees, or mortgage upon any real or personal property held by such trustees to secure bonds issued by them shall be made unless previously authorized by two-thirds of the votes cast at a duly called annual or special business meeting of the congregation.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-4 - Certain powers subject to authority of session or spiritual officers

16:11-4. Certain powers subject to authority of session or spiritual officers  In the exercise of any power necessary to the proper care of the property held for the uses of the congregation, such corporation shall be subject to such authority over the worship of the congregation, including the musical service, over the times and places of preaching the word of God and of all other religious services, and over the uses to which the church buildings and other properties may be put, as may be committed by the constitution of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America to the session of the church or to any other spiritual officers, and shall have no power to make by-laws or exercise any power with respect to matters so committed. Amended by L.1964, c. 270, s. 2.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-5 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-5 - Voters; qualifications; list of

16:11-5. Voters; qualifications; list of  The persons entitled to vote at any annual or special business meeting of any congregation connected with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America shall be those members of the congregation who are 21 years of age and who contribute by regular payments at stated periods to the support and necessary expenses of the congregation in accordance with its rules. There shall be a list of such contributors, which shall be compiled and kept accurate by the treasurer of the board of trustees and a copy of which shall be furnished by him to the session of the church. Such list shall be the authoritative list of voters at every such meeting. Amended by L.1964, c. 270, s. 3.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-6 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-6 - Succession of trustees of church having incorporated board

16:11-6. Succession of trustees of church having incorporated board  L.1905, c. 137, s. 3, p. 252 (C.S. p. 4342, s. 79), being section three of an act entitled "An act concerning the election and incorporation of the trustees and the management of the temporal affairs of Christian congregations connected with the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America," approved April twelfth, one thousand nine hundred and five, saved from repeal. [This section provides for the succession of trustees of Presbyterian churches having an incorporated board on January first, one thousand nine hundred and six.]
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-7 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-7 - Trustees; change of number

16:11-7. Trustees; change of number  Any Christian congregation connected with the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, having an incorporated board of trustees, may change the number of such trustees in the following manner: Written notice of the proposed change, authorized by the existing board of trustees or signed by at least 7 members of the congregation entitled to vote on the question, shall be conspicuously posted at the main entrance of the congregation's usual place of meeting for public worship, at least 10 days previous to the date of the annual business meeting at which it is intended to take action on the proposed change. At such meeting the congregation shall determine by by-law or resolution the number of trustees of which the board shall thereafter be composed, which number shall be 3 or any multiple of 3. The congregation shall then elect, by a plurality of the votes cast by the members thereof having the qualifications provided in section 16:11-5 of this Title, the number of trustees so determined, which trustees and their successors shall be apportioned and hold office for the terms and have the qualifications of trustees as provided in section 16:11-1 of this Title. The terms of all trustees theretofore elected shall end as soon as their successors shall be elected, when any such change is made. Amended by L.1964, c. 270, s. 4.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-8 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-8 - Meetings of trustees; president to convene

16:11-8. Meetings of trustees; president to convene  The president of the board of trustees may convene the board as occasion may require, and shall convene it on a written request signed by two members of the board.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-9 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-9 - Secretary; minutes and seal

16:11-9. Secretary; minutes and seal  The secretary of the board of trustees shall keep the minutes of the proceedings of the board in a book to be provided for that purpose, and shall have custody of the common seal of the board. He shall deliver the book of minutes and common seal to his successor in office upon demand.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-10 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-10 - Treasurer; election and duties

16:11-10. Treasurer; election and duties  A treasurer may be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by a congregation at its first business meeting for the election of trustees, or at any annual business meeting of the congregation, to serve until the next annual business meeting after his election. He shall be an ex-officio member of the board of trustees and shall: a. Have charge of moneys of the congregation which are contributed or paid to the board of trustees for congregational uses, and shall keep a correct account of the receipts and disbursements of the same, separate from his private account and under his official title as "treasurer" ; b. Render a statement in writing of the receipts and disbursements for the preceding year at each annual business meeting of the congregation, and from time to time render such other financial statements as shall be required by the congregation or the board of trustees; and c. Be the custodian of all policies of insurance and securities of the board of trustees, and all books, papers and documents pertaining to the temporal affairs of the congregation, except the book of minutes of the proceedings of the board of trustees, which shall remain in the custody of the secretary of the board, and shall deliver them and the balance of moneys in his hands as such treasurer to his successor in office on demand.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-11 - Treasurer; election by trustees; duties and powers

16:11-11. Treasurer; election by trustees; duties and powers  If a treasurer is not elected by a congregation at its first business meeting for the election of trustees or at any annual business meeting thereof, such failure shall be construed as a preference by the congregation that the treasurer be elected by the board of trustees. In such case the trustees, at their first meeting thereafter, shall elect one of their own number, or any member of the congregation, treasurer, to serve until the next annual business meeting of the congregation, or, if no treasurer be then elected, until the first meeting of the board of trustees after such annual business meeting. The duties and powers of a treasurer elected by the trustees shall be the same as those of a treasurer elected by the congregation.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-12 - Auditing committee

16:11-12. Auditing committee  An auditing committee consisting of three persons shall be elected at the first business meeting of a congregation for the election of trustees and at each annual business meeting of the congregation. Such committee shall, within ten days previous to the next annual business meeting of the congregation, examine the accounts and vouchers of the treasurer, and report thereon at such meeting.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-13 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-13 - Vacancies of trustees or officers; filling

16:11-13. Vacancies of trustees or officers; filling  Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any board of trustees, the remaining trustees shall constitute the board until the vacancy is filled. The vacancy may be filled for the unexpired term either at a special business meeting of the congregation duly called for that purpose or at the next annual business meeting of the congregation. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of president, the trustee of the board, senior in age, shall be president pro tempore, and the board shall elect one of its number to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. A vacancy in the office of secretary or treasurer, or in the auditing committee, shall be filled by the board of trustees electing a person to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
NJ Rev Stat § 16:11-14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 16 - Corporations and Associations, Religious|Section 16:11-14 - Annual meetings of congregation

16:11-14. Annual meetings of congregation  Every annual business meeting of any such congregation shall be held at its usual place of meeting for public worship at such time as the congregation shall by by-law prescribe, or, if there be no such by-law, then at such time as the board of trustees shall by resolution prescribe. In either case the board of trustees shall cause a notice of the annual meeting to be conspicuously posted at the main entrance of the congregation's usual place of meeting for public worship, at least ten days previous to the date prescribed for the meeting. If the board of trustees fail to cause the notice to be posted ten days before the date prescribed for the annual meeting by any by-law of the congregation, or, if there be no such by-law and the board of trustees fail to cause the notice to be posted within one year and ten days after any annual business meeting shall have been held, then any seven members of the congregation entitled to vote thereat may sign and cause a notice of such annual meeting to be conspicuously posted at the main entrance of the congregation's usual place of meeting for public worship, at least ten days previous to the date of the meeting mentioned in their notice.