§ 1 Continuance of existing corporations
§ 2 Existing societies; limitation or modification of rights, privileges, etc.
§ 3 Status of church privileges
§ 4 By-laws
§ 5 Membership; rights and restrictions
§ 6 Membership; women and non-residents
§ 7 Meetings; election of officers; tenure; vacancies
§ 8 Method of election of officers
§ 9 Powers of moderator
§ 10 Assessors or standing committee; election; tenure
§ 11 Management of prudential affairs
§ 12 Procedure when officers fail to call meeting
§ 13 Warning of meetings
§ 14 Warrant for meetings; contents
§ 15 Presiding officer during selection of moderator; oath of office
§ 16 Collector
§ 17 Appropriations
§ 18 Assessments on pews and property of members; liability of members for parish debts
§ 19 Sale or removal of pews or meeting-house
§ 20 ”Religious society” and ”society”, defined
§ 21 Incorporation of religious societies
§ 22 Organization meeting; certificate of incorporation, filing, etc.
§ 23 Incorporation of religious society
§ 24 Incorporation of owners of meeting houses
§ 25 Restrictions on amount of property owned; use of income
§ 26 Record of organization proceedings; filing
§ 27 Use of funds; purposes
§ 28 Societies incorporated under special acts; powers
§ 29 Manner of calling meetings
§ 30 Collection of assessments
§ 31 Sale of pews for taxes
§ 32 Notice of sale; affidavit of posting
§ 33 New or rejuvenated meeting houses; acquisition of funds by selling pews
§ 34 Meeting-houses unfit for worship; rights of pew owners to compensation
§ 35 Assessments on pews
§ 36 Assessments on pews; consent of owners
§ 37 Purchase of pews
§ 38 Property status of pews
§ 39 Protestant Episcopal societies; organization
§ 40 Methodist Episcopal churches; organization
§ 41 Powers of trustees
§ 42 First meeting of trustees, etc.
§ 43 Filing record of organization
§ 44 Roman Catholic churches; incorporation
§ 45 Status and powers of archbishop’s successor
§ 46 Powers of corporation
§ 47 Incorporation of churches
§ 48 Notice of meeting
§ 49 Election of officers
§ 50 By-laws
§ 51 Certification of organization to state secretary
§ 52 Church members only to be members of corporation; associate membership
§ 53 Conveyances by church officers
§ 54 Conveyances from religious societies
§ 55 Orthodox churches; incorporation

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 67 - Parishes and Religious Societies

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.