N.Y. Religious Corporations Law § 487: Reincorporation of present incorporated churches

§ 487. Reincorporation of present incorporated churches. 1. Any church

heretofore incorporated may, subject to restrictions and limitations of

existing laws, reincorporate under the provisions of this article, by

filing in the county clerk's office in the county in which its principal

place of worship is located, a certificate, signed and acknowledged by

all the trustees of said church in office at the time of such

reincorporation, setting forth that the said church by a majority vote

of the members present at a duly called meeting of the membership, as

determined by the by-laws of the existing corporation, desires to

reincorporate under the provisions of this article. Such certificate

shall set forth those items specified in section four hundred eighty-six

of this article.

2. The reincorporated corporation shall be deemed a continuation of

the previously organized corporation, but thereafter it shall have only

such rights and powers and be subject only to such obligations as any

corporation created under this article, provided, however, that all

property rights and liabilities of the previously organized corporation

shall be vested in and assumed by the reincorporated corporation. The

corporate by-laws and officers of the reincorporated corporation shall

be the same as those of its predecessor until changed pursuant to the

said by-laws, provided they conform to the provisions of section four

hundred eighty-five of this article.