315.23 INCORPORATION OF DIOCESAN COUNCIL, SYNOD, PRESBYTERY,
CONFERENCE, ASSOCIATION, CONSOCIATION, OR SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Method. A diocesan council, synod, presbytery, conference, association,
consociation, or other general organization for ecclesiastical or religious purposes, existing in a
church or religious denomination in this state, and composed of or representing several parishes,
congregations, or particular churches under church law, may form a corporation. To do so, it must
adopt a canon or resolution stating:
(1) its purpose to form a corporation;
(2) its name and its general purposes and powers, consistent with law;
(3) the name of the church or religious denomination to which the body organizing the
corporation belongs, and the district or territorial limits of its jurisdiction;
(4) the number and official titles of the officers through whom it will act, by whom and
how the officers are elected or appointed, the length of their terms, and their general duties,
powers, and authority; and
(5) the names and addresses of the first officers of the corporation.
    Subd. 2. Canon or resolution, approval, recording. A copy of the resolution or canon,
certified by the presiding officer of the body adopting it, verified by the affidavit of its secretary or
clerk, and endorsed with the certificate of the attorney general that it conforms to law, must be
filed with the county recorder of the county where the body is located. The county recorder shall
record it, including the endorsement, and issue a certificate that the law has been complied with
and the body is incorporated according to law. The county recorder shall keep an alphabetical
index of these corporations.
    Subd. 3. Amendment of canon or resolution. The body organizing the corporation or its
successor may amend or modify the resolution under which the corporation was formed. It may
change its jurisdictional limits, the number, official titles, terms of office, or the manner of electing
or appointing officers, or their duties, powers, and authority, or the purposes and powers of the
corporation. The change must be consistent with law, and not impair trusts or vested rights of
property. The amendment must be made by resolution or canon adopted at two successive sessions
of the body, so certified, verified, and recorded with the county recorder where the body is located.
History: (7987, 7988) RL s 3152, 3153; 1984 c 618 s 27; 1985 c 265 art 5 s 1; 1994 c 438 s 8