CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
Pursuant to ARTICLE 9 of the Religious Corporations Law
We, the undersigned, all being persons of full age and citizens of the United States, of whom a majority are residents of the State of New York, desiring to associate ourselves for the purpose of founding and continuing a Free Church, pursuant to Section 180 of the Religious Corporations Law of the State of New York hereby certify as follows:
ARTICLE FIRST.
The name or title by which said society shall be known in law shall be ___________________
.
ARTICLE SECOND
The purpose of its organization is to establish and maintain a Free Church in the City of ________,
County of ___________, New York.
Said church is established to provide a place for the worship of God, to provide for
Christian fellowship for those of like precious faith, to honor the Holy Spirit by our testimony, to provide a structure for the nurture, challenge and maturing of our members in the Christian faith, to assume our share of the responsibility and privilege of propagating the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, both at home and in foreign lands, which includes ministering to people's physical, social and spiritual needs through local churches, missions organizations, and other outreach ministries, and to conduct any and all lawful activities which may be useful in accomplishing the foregoing purpose.
Said church may exercise the power of ordination, including the power to ordain one or more pastors and ministers of the gospel to preside over and direct the spiritual affairs of the church.
Said church shall have all of the general powers set forth in Section 202 of the Not-for-
Profit Corporation Law to the extent that such powers are not inconsistent with the Religious
Corporations Law of New York.
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ARTICLE THIRD
The names of the seven (7) Trustees of whom not less than five (5) are persons who are not ordained ministers of the gospel or priests of any denomination to manage the same are as follows:
[ INSERT NAME OF EACH TRUSTEE HERE ]
ARTICLE FOURTH
ONLY CHARITABLE PURPOSES. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the
Corporation is organized exclusively for one or more purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under IRC 501(c)(3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent tax laws.
NO PRIVATE INUREMENT. No part of the net earnings, properties or assets of the corporation, on dissolution or otherwise, shall inure to the benefit of any private person or individual or any member or director of this corporation (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the corporation), and no member, trustee, officer of the corporation or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the corporation assets on dissolution of the corporation.
PROHIBITION ON POLITICAL ACTIVITY. No substantial part of the activities of the
Corporation shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation
(except as otherwise provided by IRC 501(h)) or participation in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidates for public office.
DISSOLUTION. In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the corporation shall, after necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to such organization of like faith and with purposes that are similar to those of this Assembly, as shall qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws, as its Trustees shall select, of in the absence of selection, as directed by a Justice of the Supreme Court of New York
PRIVATE FOUNDATION. In any taxable year in which the Corporation is a private
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foundation as described in IRC 509(a), the Corporation shall distribute its income for said period at such time and manner as not to subject it to tax under IRC 4942, and the Corporation shall not (a) engage in any act of self-dealing as defined in IRC 4941(d), (b) retain any excess business holdings as defined in IRC 4943(c), (c) make any investments in such manner as to subject the Corporation to tax under IRC 4944, or (d) make any taxable expenditures as defined in IRC 4945(d) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws.
ARTICLE FIFTH
Each of the subscribers of this certificate is a person of full age, a citizen of the United States and a majority thereof residents of the State of New York.
This Certificate may be signed in one or more counterparts, including by facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made, signed and acknowledged this certificate the
day of , 2012.
Signature of Person #1 Signature of Person #4
Signature of Person #2
Signature of Person #3
Signature of Person #5
Signature of Person #6
Signature of Person #7
VERIFICATION
STATE OF NEW YORK)
COUNTY OF
We the undersigned persons, being duly sworn, depose and say that they are Trustees of the above named church named in and described in the forgoing certificate. That they have read the foregoing certificate and know the contents thereof, and that the same is true to their own knowledge, except to matters therein stated to be alleged upon information and belief, and as to those matters therein they believe it to be true.
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Signature of Person #1 Signature of Person #4
Signature of Person #2
Signature of Person #3
Signature of Person #5
Signature of Person #6
Signature of Person #7
STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared _____________________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared ___________________ personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
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STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared ______________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared ______________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared ____________________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
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STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally appeared ___________________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
STATE OF NEW YORK )
COUNTY OF _________) ss:
On the _____ day of _____ in the year 2012, before me, the undersigned, a Notary Public in and for said State, personally ___________________, personally known to me or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose names are subscribed to the within instrument and each acknowledged to me that he/she executed the same in his/her capacity, and that by his/her signature on the instrument, the individual, or the person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
Notary Public
I hereby approve and consent to the filing of the within Certificate of Incorporation.
Dated: _______________ ________________________________
Supreme Court Justice
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