N.Y. Religious Corporations Law Section 91
Government of incorporated Roman Catholic churches

The archbishop or bishop and the vicar-general of the diocese to which any incorporated Roman Catholic church belongs, the rector of such church, and their successors in office shall, by virtue of their offices, be trustees of such church. Two laymen, members of such incorporated church, selected by such officers or by a majority of them, shall also be trustees of such incorporated church, and such officers and such laymen trustees shall together constitute the board of trustees thereof. The two laymen signing the certificate of incorporation of an incorporated Roman Catholic church shall be the two laymen trustees thereof during the first year of its corporate existence. The term of office of the two laymen trustees of an incorporated Roman Catholic church shall be one year. Whenever the office of any such layman trustee shall become vacant by expiration of term of office or otherwise, his successor shall be appointed from members of the church, by such officers or a majority of them. No act or proceeding of the trustees of any such incorporated church shall be valid without the sanction of the archbishop or bishop of the diocese to which such church belongs, or in case of their absence or inability to act, without the sanction of the vicar-general or of the administrator of such diocese.

Source: Section 91 — Government of incorporated Roman Catholic churches, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RCO/91 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Feb. 14, 2026).

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Verified:
Feb. 14, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 91. Gov’t of incorporated Roman Catholic churches's source at nysenate​.gov

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