N.Y. Religious Corporations Law § 221: Government of incorporated union churches

§ 221. Government of incorporated union churches. Any union church or

society having a common place of worship or holding property belonging

jointly to the several societies composing the same, but the sole right

of occupancy of which is reserved to each of them in proportion to their

interest in such property, or the money originally paid therefor by

each, or in accordance with their plan of union agreed on, may, if any

one or more of the churches or societies comprising such union church or

society has ceased to exist, on the request of such remaining churches

or society, redistribute and divide the time of occupancy among such

remaining societies in proportion to their contributions to such

property respectively, or in accordance with a new plan of union agreed

on by them. Such redistribution shall be made by the trustees of said

union church or society on written notice to the societies which it is

alleged have ceased to exist; but no such society shall be deemed to

have ceased to exist unless it has failed or neglected for a period of

five consecutive years next preceding such request for redistribution,

to hold meetings and have a clerk or secretary, and keep a list or

registry of its members, or to have preaching, prayer or conference

meetings, or other religious services in keeping with the usages of the

denomination to which it belongs.

Any one of the societies composing a union church or society, which

shall have built a church edifice in the same village or neighborhood in

which it holds its religious services, shall not thereby lose or forfeit

in any way any of its rights or privileges in such union society, and

the maintaining of divine worship, or contributing to its support in its

own building, shall be regarded the same as if it held its meetings in

the church building of such union society. Any notice for the election

of trustees of the union society or for any other purpose which the law

requires to be read or given at the time of divine service, may be read

or given in the church edifice so built by any one of such societies, if

at the time religious services are not held in the church edifice of

such union society. But such notice must be posted on the outer door of

such union church edifice at least fifteen days before the meeting. If

any society composing any such church union or society has a greater

interest in the occupancy of the church building than others, unless the

several churches composing the union church or society have agreed

otherwise, the number of trustees shall be odd, and the trustees shall

be elected from such societies in proportion to their respective

interests in the union, church or society, as nearly as may be. Any

society composing such union church or society, which has built for

itself a church edifice and become incorporated, may sell its interest

and right of occupancy in such union society, and convey the same, when

authorized so to do by a two-thirds vote of the voters thereof qualified

to vote for union trustees, at a special meeting called for that

purpose. The proceeds of such sale shall be used for the benefit of its

church property.