N.Y. Religious Corporations Law § 337: Application for incorporation

§ 337. Application for incorporation. Any number of persons of full

age, not less than ten, who are communicants in canonical standing

within the Eastern Orthodox Church may associate themselves for the

purpose of founding and continuing a congregation acknowledging,

conforming to and promoting the faith, doctrine, discipline, rite,

canons, traditions, usages and constitution of the Byelorussian

Autocephalic Orthodox Church in America and apply to the archbishop or

bishop, who is the ecclesiastical administrator of said church, for

permission and sanction to incorporate such congregation. When such

permission aforesaid has been obtained in writing over the signature and

seal of such archbishop or bishop, such congregation may become an

incorporated church by executing, acknowledging and filing a certificate

of incorporation as hereinafter provided.

Any religious order, theological seminary for the preparation of

candidates for ministry, or religious society established for

evangelical efforts or the relief of the poor and needy, which is

intended to be an auxiliary organization of the Byelorussian

Autocephalic Orthodox Church in America, where a chapel for the conduct

of worship is provided shall be deemed a congregation to all intents and

purposes, and may be incorporated in the manner prescribed in this

article.