SECURING, SELLING, OR TRANSFERRING CHURCH PROPERTY.
1. SECURING CHURCHES AND PARSONAGES
Ques. What shall be done for the security of our preaching houses and
parsonages, and other Church property, and the premises belonging
thereto?
Ans. 1. Each Annual Conference is authorized to make such modification
in the deeds as they may find the different usages and customs of law
require in the different States and Territories, so as to secure the
property firmly by deed, and permanently =in fee simple=, to the Colored
Methodist Episcopal Church in America; but in all conveyances of ground
for the building of houses of worship, or upon which they may have been
already built, let the following clause be inserted at the proper place:
"In trust, that said premises shall be used, kept, maintained, and
disposed of as a place of Divine Worship for the use of the ministry and
membership of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America; subject
to the Discipline, usage, and ministerial appointments of said Church,
as from time to time authorized and declared by the General Conference
of said Church, and the Annual Conference within whose bounds the said
premises are situated."
2. Likewise, in all conveyances of ground for the building of dwelling
houses for the use of the preachers, or upon which they may have been
already built, let the following clause be inserted at the proper place:
"In trust, that said premises shall be held, kept, and maintained and
disposed of as a place of residence for the use and occupancy of the
preachers of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church in America, who may
from time to time be appointed in said place; subject to the usage and
Discipline of said Church, as from time to time authorized and declared
by the General Conference of said Church, and by the Annual Conference
within whose bounds the said premises are situated."
II. DIVISION, TRANSFER, OR SALE OF CHURCH PROPERTY
1. When any circuit, station, or mission shall be divided into two or
more charges, each separate charge may constitute a new Board or Boards
of Trustees; and the Church property held by the Trustees of the
original charge shall be conveyed to the new Boards thus created, and
the former Board or Boards shall be freed from all pecuniary
liabilities, such being transferred to the new Boards respectively.
2. The Trustees, with the consent of the preacher in charge and the
Quarterly Conference, shall have power to sell any church or parsonage
property, which has gone out of use or should be removed to another
place, the proceeds of which shall be under the direction of the
Quarterly Conference.
3. If the said Trustees, or any of them, or their successors, have
advanced, or shall advance, any sum or sums of money, or shall be
responsible for any sum or sums of money, on account of Church property,
and they, the said Trustees, or their successors, be obliged to pay the
said sum or sums of money, they, or a majority of them, shall be
authorized to raise the said sum or sums of money by a mortgage on the
said property, or by selling the said property, after notice given to
the preacher in charge, or the Presiding Elder of the District, if the
money due be not paid to the said Trustees, or their successors, within
one year after such notice has been given; =provided=, that in no case
shall any such trustees sell or mortgage any Church property unless they
are authorized by the Quarterly Conference, the Presiding Elder being
present in person. Any sale or mortgage made without the authority of
the Quarterly Conference is hereby declared NULL and VOID; and if such
sale takes place, the said Trustees, or their successors, after paying
the debt and other expenses which are due from the money arising from
such sale, shall pay over the remainder of the money produced by the
said sale to the Steward, or Stewards, of the circuit, station, or
mission; which surplus of the produce of said sale shall be forwarded by
the said Steward, or Stewards, to the Quarterly Conference within whose
bounds it is situated, at its next session; which said Quarterly
Conference shall dispose of the said money, by a vote of the majority
for the use of the said circuit, station or mission.
=PART VIII.=
BOARDS AND DEPARTMENTS FINANCIAL PLAN