Chapter 315 — Formation; Trustees

315.01 Formation; Trustees This law explains how a church or religious group can become a legal organization in Minnesota. At least five members … 315.02 Certificate of Election of Trustees This law validates religious corporations that chose trustees before February 1, 1877. If the group's leaders made a … 315.03 Certificate Recorded This law says that the certificate of incorporation, along with the acknowledgment and proof that notice was posted, … 315.04 Trustees, Powers This law gives church trustees the power to manage the church's property and business. Trustees can own a seal, hold … 315.05 Trustees, Management Powers This law lets church trustees repair buildings, manage money, rent pews, and run cemeteries. With the congregation's … 315.06 Trustees, Terms, Election; Quorum Church trustees serve three-year terms and are divided into three classes so that about one-third are elected each year. … 315.07 Voters, Qualifications After a church incorporates, a member can only vote in elections if they have attended worship for at least six months … 315.08 Definitions This section defines the word 'society' as used in this chapter. A 'society' means the religious group itself, organized … 315.09 General Powers of Religious Corporations A religious corporation formed under this chapter can sue and be sued, own property, and buy or sell real estate and … 315.10 Powers of Certain Corporations Religious corporations, parishes, or dioceses formed under sections 315.15 and 315.16 can sue, be sued, and buy, sell, … 315.11 Limitation of Right to Hold Property A religious corporation can only own property that is related to the purposes for which it was created. The amount of … 315.12 Sale or Encumbrance of Real Estate Before a religious corporation can sell, mortgage, or dispose of real estate, the members must vote to allow it. A … 315.121 Religious Corporations, Certain Conveyances Validated This law validates old property transfers made by religious corporations even if proper authorization was not … 315.13 Existing Societies Confirmed; Reorganization Religious corporations that were formed before Minnesota's territorial laws took effect are still valid. If a … 315.14 Lands Held in Trust When land is given or transferred to trustees for a religious society's use as a meeting house, burial ground, or … 315.15 Parish Corporations, Organization This law lets a bishop, vicar general, and pastor of a parish form a corporation together with two lay members. They … 315.16 Diocesan Corporations; Formation; Powers This law lets a bishop, vicar general, and chancellor of a diocese form a corporation with two other denomination … 315.17 Parish of Protestant Episcopal Church A parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church can form a corporation by filing a certificate with the county recorder. The … 315.18 Annual Meeting; Vestry, Election, Meetings Episcopal parish corporations must hold annual meetings on Easter Monday or another date set in their articles. At the … 315.19 Articles Amended An Episcopal parish incorporated under Minnesota law can change its articles of incorporation and move the date of its … 315.20 Cathedrals An Episcopal cathedral can become a corporation by filing a certificate with the county recorder. The certificate must … 315.21 Incorporation A church that does not want to use the other methods in this chapter can incorporate with at least three members. They … 315.22 Existing Churches May Incorporate; Reincorporation; Property to Vest An unincorporated church can become a corporation by filing a certificate under this chapter. When it does, all the … 315.23 Incorporation of Diocesan Council, Synod, Presbytery, Conference, Association, Consociation, or Similar Organizations Regional church organizations like synods, presbyteries, conferences, or diocesan councils can form a corporation by … 315.24 Special Powers A corporation formed under section 315.23 can hold property in trust for local parishes, missions, or congregations. The … 315.25 Annual Meeting, Notice of, Place A religious corporation with members in other states can hold its annual meeting outside Minnesota. Notice of the … 315.26 Consolidation of Parishes, Congregations, or Churches Incorporated regional church organizations like synods, presbyteries, or conferences can merge with other similar … 315.27 Procedure for Incorporation Two or more regional church organizations can form a new corporation by adopting a resolution that is certified, … 315.28 Privileges A corporation formed through the consolidation of regional church organizations has the same powers and rights as a … 315.29 Right to Hold Property When property is transferred to a consolidated religious corporation, it must be held for the same purposes and under … 315.30 Amendment of Certificate A religious corporation can change its certificate of incorporation by adopting a resolution and recording the amended … 315.31 Amendment of Articles of Incorporation A religious society or corporation formed under section 315.21 can change its articles of incorporation on any matter … 315.32 Trustees, Powers; Certificate, Recording To amend articles of incorporation, the board of trustees must vote unanimously after being authorized by a resolution … 315.33 Method Provided is Additional The amendment process in sections 315.31 to 315.33 is an additional option. Religious organizations can still amend … 315.34 Consolidation of Religious Corporations Two or more incorporated churches, parishes, congregations, or religious societies can merge into one organization. An … 315.35 Resolution; Notice Before churches can merge, each one must hold a meeting and pass a resolution approving the merger by a two-thirds vote. … 315.36 Meetings; Notice; Organization; Powers After each church approves the merger, the combined congregation meets to pick a name, choose a form of organization, … 315.365 Merger of Religious Corporations When denominations merge, their property corporations can also merge. The merger requires approval by the new religious … 315.37 When Society Ceases to Exist; Disposal of Property When a religious society that is supervised by a higher church body stops existing or maintaining its organization, all … 315.38 Dissolution, Application, Hearing To transfer property from a dissolved religious society to its higher governing body, someone from the governing body … 315.39 Title to Real Property This law helps religious groups reclaim property that was conveyed to a bishop before 1907, when the denomination's home … 315.40 Employee Benefits Religious organizations can pay benefits to their ministers, teachers, and other employees, and to their families after … 315.41 Camp Meeting Associations; Formation; Capital Stock Camp meetings, Sunday school assemblies, and societies for religious instruction or moral and social improvement can … 315.42 Tax Exempt; No Streets Through Property Property used by a camp meeting or similar religious corporation that is not leased out or used to make money is exempt … 315.43 This section has been repealed. It was removed by 2005 c 10 art 2 s 5. 315.44 Ymca, Ywca; Formation, Certificate Three or more people can form a YMCA or YWCA corporation by signing a certificate that includes the incorporators' … 315.45 Classification of Members YMCA and YWCA directors can create membership classes such as active, senior, junior, and associate members through … 315.46 Board of Trustees May Manage Real Property A YMCA or YWCA can create a board of trustees with at least five members to control its property. The association … 315.47 Property Rights The board of trustees controls the YMCA or YWCA's real property. Real estate cannot be sold or mortgaged without the … 315.48 Reincorporation A religious society already operating as a YMCA or YWCA can reincorporate under sections 315.44 to 315.47. All directors … 315.49 This section has been repealed. It was removed by 1987 c 49 s 20. 315.50 Consolidation of Church Conferences When church conferences merge, a local church that was part of one of the merging conferences can use the new … 315.51 Jcc; Definition A 'JCC' is defined as a nonprofit religious organization under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It refers to …