N.Y. Religious Corporations Law Section 195
Organization and conduct of corporate meetings

  • qualification of voters thereat
At a corporate meeting of an incorporated church to which this article is applicable the following persons, and no others, shall be qualified voters, to wit: All persons who are then members in good and regular standing of such church by admission into full communion or membership therewith in accordance with the rules and regulations thereof, and of the governing ecclesiastical body, if any, of the denomination or order to which the church belongs, or who have been stated attendants on divine worship in such church and have regularly contributed to the financial support thereof during the year next preceding such meeting; and any other church incorporated under this article, may at any annual corporate meeting thereof, or any corporate meeting called pursuant to the provisions of this article, if notice of the intention so to do has been given with the notice of such meeting, determine that thereafter only members of such church shall be qualified voters at corporate meetings thereof. The presence at such meetings of at least six persons qualified to vote thereat 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 first named of the following persons who is present at such meeting shall preside thereat, to wit: The minister of such church, the officiating minister thereof; the officers thereof in the order of their age beginning with the oldest, any qualified voters elected therefor at the meeting. The presiding officer of the meeting shall receive the votes, be the judge of qualifications of voters and declare the result of the votes cast on any matter. The polls of an annual corporate meeting shall continue open for one hour, and longer in the discretion of the presiding officer, or if required by a majority of the qualified voters present. At each annual corporate meeting, successors to those trustees whose terms of office then expire, shall be elected from the qualified voters by ballot, for a term of three years thereafter.

Source: Section 195 — Organization and conduct of corporate meetings; qualification of voters thereat, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RCO/195 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Nov. 29, 2025).

Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Nov. 29, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 195. Org. & conduct of corporate meetings's source at nysenate​.gov

Link Style