Ohio § 1715.08

§ 1715.08.

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.