140 - Transfer of property to Baptist corporations.
§ 140. Transfer of property to Baptist corporations. Any incorporated Baptist church, created by or existing under the laws of the state of New York, having its principal office or place of worship in the state of New York, or whose last place of worship was within the state of New York, is hereby authorized and empowered, by a vote of two-thirds of its qualified voters present and voting therefor, at a meeting regularly called for that purpose, to transfer and convey any of its property, real or personal, which it now has or may hereafter acquire, to any religious, charitable or missionary corporation connected with the Baptist denomination and incorporated by or organized under any law or laws of the state of New York, either solely, or among other purposes, to establish or maintain, or to assist in establishing or maintaining churches, schools, or mission stations or to erect, or assist in the erection of such buildings as may be necessary for any of such purposes, and on or without the payment of any money or other consideration therefor, and upon such transfer or conveyance being made, the title to and the ownership and right of possession of the property so transferred and conveyed shall be vested in and conveyed to such grantee; and also any membership corporation incorporated by or organized under any special or general law or laws of the state of New York, either solely, or among other purposes, for religious, charitable, missionary or educational objects connected with or for the aid of the Baptist denomination or any church or churches thereof or for the erection or maintenance of any building therefor, is hereby authorized and empowered, by the vote of at least two-thirds of the whole number of its directors, or by the vote of at least a majority thereof if such whole number of directors is twenty or more, at any regularly called or regularly held meeting of such directors, to transfer and convey any of its property, real or personal, which it now has or may hereafter acquire, to any incorporated Baptist church within the state of New York, and on or without the payment of any money or other consideration therefor, and upon such transfer or conveyance being made, the title to and the ownership and right of possession of the property so transferred and conveyed shall be vested in and conveyed to such grantee; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall impair or affect in any way, any existing claim upon or lien against any property so transferred or conveyed, or any action at law or legal proceeding, and subject, in respect to the amount of property the said grantee may take and hold, to the restrictions and limitations of existing laws.