16:12-1 - Incorporation;  meeting

16:12-1.  Incorporation;  meeting
    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 5 male members of full age, and read during public service at the  usual place of worship, on the 2 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 he is absent, or if there be no minister in charge of the  congregation, another person shall be chosen to act as chairman.  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 Vestrymen 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 vestrymen, which shall be 3, 6, 9, or 12.

     The meeting shall then elect, by ballot, 2 wardens, 1 to hold office until the first annual meeting, and the other to hold office until the second annual meeting thereafter.  The number of vestrymen determined upon shall be elected in like manner,   1/3   to hold office until the first annual meeting,   1/3 until the second annual meeting, and   1/3   until the third annual meeting thereafter.

     Amended by L.1961, c. 114, p. 709, s. 1, eff. Nov. 29, 1961.