N.Y. Religious Corporations Law § 325: Corporate meetings

§ 325. Corporate meetings. 1. The trustees of an incorporated United

Methodist church shall be elected at the annual corporate meeting which

shall be held at the time and place fixed by the by-laws, if such time

and place be so fixed, and otherwise at a time and place to be fixed by

its trustees. A special corporate meeting of any such church may be

called by the board of trustees thereof, on its own motion or on the

written request of at least ten qualified voters of such church. The

trustees shall cause notice of the time and place of the annual

corporate meeting therein specifying the name of any trustees, whose

successors are to be elected thereat, and, if a special meeting,

specifying the business to be transacted thereat, to be given at each of

the two next preceding regular meetings of such incorporated church for

public worship, at least one week apart, at morning service, if such

service be held, on Sunday, if Sunday be the day for such regular

meetings, or if no such public worship be held during such period, by

conspicuously posting such notice in writing upon the outer entrance to

the principal place of worship of such church. Such notice shall be

given by the district superintendent, the pastor, the officiating

minister or an officer of the church.

2. At such a corporate meeting the following persons, and no other,

shall be qualified voters for the election of trustees, to wit: all

persons who are full members of such church in good and regular

standing. The members present at any duly announced meeting shall

constitute a quorum. Each action of the meeting upon any matter or

question shall be decided by a majority of the qualified voters present

and voting thereon. At such a meeting the district superintendent or the

pastor shall preside, or in the absence of both or in case of either or

both declining to preside, any qualified voter may be elected to

preside. The presiding officer of the meeting shall receive the votes,

be the judge of qualifications of voters subject to appeal to the vote

of the members present whose qualifications as voters are not

challenged, and declare the result of the votes cast on any matter.

3. Election of trustees at the annual corporate meeting shall be by

written individual ballot and on a majority vote. Such trustees shall be

of full age and each election shall provide that at least two-thirds of

the board of trustees shall be members of The United Methodist Church.

The trustees shall be elected for a term of three years or until their

successors have been duly elected, provided that one-third shall be

elected each year.