N.Y. Religious Corporations Law Section 186
Meeting for incorporation

At the meeting for incorporation held in pursuance of such notice, the following persons, and no others, shall be qualified voters, to wit: All persons of full age, who are then members in good and regular standing of such church or society by admission into full membership therewith, in accordance with the rules and regulations thereof. At such meeting, the presence of a majority of such qualified voters, at least six in number, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The action of the meeting upon any matter or question shall be decided by a majority of the qualified voters voting thereon, a quorum being present. The meeting shall be called to order by one of the signers of the call. There shall be elected at such meeting, from the qualified voters then present, a presiding officer, a clerk to keep the record of the proceedings, of the meeting and two inspectors of election to receive the ballots cast. The presiding officer of the meeting and the inspectors shall decide the results of the ballots cast on any matter, and shall be the judges of the qualifications of voters. Such meeting shall decide whether such unincorporated church or society shall become incorporated. If such decision shall be in favor of incorporation such meeting shall decide upon the name of the proposed corporation which shall be “Church of Christ, Scientist,” prefixed by “First,” “Second,” “Third” or other numerical designation, or “Christian Science Society” as the case may be, and followed by the name of the place where it shall be located; the meeting also shall decide the number of the trustees of such church or society, which shall be any number from three to twelve, and shall determine the date, not more than fifteen months thereafter, on which the first annual election of the trustees thereof after such meeting shall be held. Such meeting shall thereupon elect by ballot, from the persons qualified to vote thereat, one-third of the number of trustees as nearly as possible so decided upon who shall hold office until the first annual election of trustees thereafter, one-third of such number of trustees as nearly as possible who shall hold office until the second annual election of trustees thereafter, and the remainder of such trustees who shall hold office until the third annual election of trustees thereafter, or until the respective successors of such trustees shall be elected and take office.

Source: Section 186 — Meeting for incorporation, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RCO/186 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Feb. 14, 2026).

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Verified:
Feb. 14, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 186. Meeting for incorporation's source at nysenate​.gov

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