16:12-1 Incorporation; meeting.

16:12-1. Any congregation or parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this State, duly organized in accordance with the constitution and canons of such church, may incorporate in the following manner:

A meeting shall be called by notice, designating the time and place of such meeting and the object for which it is called, signed by the minister, if there be one, and five members of full age, and read during public service at the usual place of worship, on the two successive Sundays next preceding. At such meeting only those persons who are qualified in accordance with the constitution and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the diocese in which the parish is located shall be entitled to vote or act as officers. Five qualified voters shall constitute a quorum, and all questions shall be decided by a majority vote of those present. The minister shall preside at the meeting, but if the minister is absent, or if there be no minister in charge of the congregation, another person shall be chosen to act as chairperson. The presiding officer shall be the judge of the qualification of voters, shall receive the votes and declare the result. A secretary shall be chosen to record the proceedings.

The meeting shall determine by ballot whether the congregation shall become incorporated, and if so determined, the meeting shall determine further:

a. The corporate title, which shall be in the form as follows:

"The Rector, Wardens and Vestry of ...... Church in ............";

b. The date of the annual meeting, which shall not be inconsistent with the constitution, canons or laws of such church; and

c. The number of vestrymembers, which shall be three, six, nine, or 12.

The meeting shall then elect, by ballot, two wardens, one to hold office until the first annual meeting, and the other to hold office until the second annual meeting thereafter. The number of vestrymembers determined upon shall be elected in like manner, one-third to hold office until the first annual meeting, one-third until the second annual meeting, and one-third until the third annual meeting thereafter.

amended 1961, c.114, s.1; 2017, c.151, s.1