Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 1715 | Religious and Benevolent Organizations
Section 1715.08 | Consolidation of Churches Having Same Form of Faith.

Effective: October 1, 1953
Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly
When two or more religious societies, churches, or associations recognizing the same ecclesiastical jurisdiction, form of faith, government, order, and discipline, and incorporated in this state, desire to be consolidated or united as a single corporation, the elders, trustees, deacons, directors, or other known and legal representatives of such societies, churches, or associations may enter into an agreement for such union or consolidation and prescribe the terms thereof; the corporate name of such united society, church, or association; the time and place for the first meeting of the new corporation; and the number of members of each separate branch or organization to be chosen as directors, trustees, elders, or other officers for the new body. Such officers of the new body shall succeed to the rights, trusts, duties, and obligations of those officers who, in the separate organizations, held in trust the real and personal estate of such separate churches, societies, or associations, and shall hold such other estates as they deem necessary to complete the new corporation.
No such agreement shall be valid until it has been submitted to a separate meeting of the members of each component organization, of which notice has been given according to the form and usage for calling meetings of such component organization, and ratified by a two-thirds vote of all present at such meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote according to the laws, regulations, or usages of such component organization.
When the agreement has been ratified by each church, society, or association which is a party to the proposed united organization, the clerk or secretary of each meeting shall certify the record of its proceedings and deliver such record to the clerk or secretary of the first meeting of the united organization.
If, at the first meeting of the united organization, the proceedings and acts of the several component organizations are submitted to and approved by it, and a board of trustees, directors, or other officers are chosen in accordance with the terms of the agreement for union or consolidation, the clerk or secretary of such meeting shall certify such agreement and file it in the office of the secretary of state, whereupon the several churches, societies, or associations which are parties thereto shall become one corporation.
Such new corporation, with its officers and chosen representatives, shall succeed to and be invested with all the right, title, and interest in every species of property, and all the rights, privileges, and franchises, of each of the churches, societies, or associations which are parties to the agreement for union or consolidation, without any other act, conveyance, or transfer; and such new corporation shall be subject to all the liabilities and obligations of the component organizations.

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