N.J. Stat. tit. 16, ch. 20

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-1 Definitions, Coptic Orthodox Church

1. As used in this act: "Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese" refers to that person who is serving as bishop for that diocese pursuant to the authority of and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Synodical Committee for the Coptic Churches in Immigration. In accordance with the laws of the Holy Synod, the Pope of Alexandria, in Egypt, is the presiding bishop of any new diocese during the foundation period and until a bishop is ordained for that diocese. Likewise, and pursuant to such laws, the Pope of Alexandria, in Egypt, is the presiding bishop of any existing diocese which has no bishop. "Coptic Orthodox Church" means the Apostolic Church presided over by His Holiness, the Pope of Alexandria, in Egypt, and the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, the legislative body of which is known as the Holy Synod. The Coptic Orthodox Church is a hierarchical church. "Holy Synod" means the highest legislative and executive authority in the Coptic Orthodox Church, presided over by His Holiness, the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark and is more formally known as "The Holy Synod for the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the See of St. Mark." "Synodical Committee for the Coptic Churches in Immigration" means, according to the constitution and bylaws of the Holy Synod, the committee formed and presided over by His Holiness, the Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of the See of St. Mark from among the members of the Holy Synod, to assist him in marshalling the affairs of the churches abroad. "Unincorporated church in this State" and a "church heretofore incorporated in this State" means a church, cathedral, chapel or other religious organization in this State founded and established for the purpose of and with the intent of adhering to, and being subject to the administrative jurisdiction of, the Synodical Committee for the Coptic Churches in Immigration. L.1993,c.148,s.1.

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-2 Applicability of act

2. This act applies to any unincorporated church in this State and any unincorporated diocese or archdiocese located in whole or in part in this State affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox Church and to any church, diocese or archdiocese heretofore incorporated in this State which desires to reincorporate pursuant to this act, except that nothing shall prevent or prohibit any church, diocese or archdiocese heretofore incorporated in this State affiliated with the Coptic Orthodox Church from maintaining and continuing that affiliation enjoyed at the time of the effective date of this act should that church, diocese or archdiocese determine not to reincorporate pursuant to this act. L.1993,c.148,s.2.

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-3 Procedure for becoming incorporated as a church

3. An unincorporated church in this State may become incorporated as a church by executing, acknowledging and filing a certificate of incorporation, stating the corporate name by which that church shall be known in the county and municipality where its principal place of worship is, or is intended to be located. A certificate of incorporation of an unincorporated church in this State shall be executed and acknowledged by the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese in which its place of worship is located and by two or more persons who shall be appointed by the bishop from among the priests and deacons of that church. Upon filing that certificate of incorporation, that church shall be a corporation by the name stated in the certificate. L.1993,c.148,s.3.

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-4 Procedure for reincorporating a church

4. Any church heretofore incorporated in this State, with the consent of the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese in which its place of worship is located, may reincorporate under the provisions of this act by filing in the office of the Secretary of State, and a copy thereof in the office of the county clerk in the county in which its principal place of worship is located, a certificate, signed by the trustees in office at the time of that reincorporation, in which the majority of those trustees set forth that they desire to reincorporate under the provisions of this act. The certificate shall include the corporate name by which that church shall be known, the county and municipality where its principal place of worship is located, and the names of the bishop and two or more persons appointed by the bishop from among the priests and deacons of that church, who shall constitute the initial board of trustees of the church. Immediately upon the filing of that certificate all the right, title, equity and interest of that church in any estate, real or personal, together with all franchise and charter rights, shall be vested in the body corporate so created under this act and the original incorporation of that church shall be null and void. L.1993,c.148,s.4.

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-5 Incorporation of diocese, archdiocese

5. Any diocese or archdiocese of the Coptic Orthodox Church located in whole or in part in this State may become incorporated as a diocese or archdiocese under the provisions of this act by filing in the Office of the Secretary of State a certificate of incorporation. A certificate of incorporation of a diocese or archdiocese shall be executed and acknowledged by the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church, or the Archbishop of the Coptic Orthodox archdiocese, and by two or more persons who shall be appointed by the bishop from among the priests and deacons of that diocese or archdiocese. Upon filing that certificate of incorporation, that diocese or archdiocese shall be a corporation by the name stated in the certificate. L.1993,c.148,s.5.

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-6 Trustees of church

6. The Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese in which the place of worship of an incorporated church in this State is located and his successors in office shall, by virtue of his office, be a trustee of that church. Two or more persons selected by the bishop from among the priests and deacons of that church in the manner provided from time to time by rules and regulations of the Coptic Orthodox Church adopted by the Synodical Committee for the Coptic Churches in Immigration shall also be trustees of that incorporated church, and the bishop and other such persons shall together constitute the board of trustees thereof. The bishop and other persons signing the certificate of incorporation shall be the trustees of that church for the first year or until their successors are selected according to the rules, statutes, regulations and usages of the Coptic Orthodox Church adopted by the Synodical Committee for the Coptic Churches in Immigration. The trustees of every church in this State shall have the custody and control of all temporalities and property, real and personal, belonging to that church and of the revenues therefrom and shall administer them in accordance with the rules, statutes, regulations and usages of the Coptic Orthodox Church adopted by the Synodical Committee for the Coptic Churches in Immigration, except that no act or proceeding of the trustees of any such incorporated church shall be valid without the approval of the bishop of the diocese in which the place of worship of that church is located, or in case of his absence or inability to act, without the approval of the vicar of that diocese. L.1993,c.148,s.6.

N.J. Stat. § 16:20-7 Division of parish, transfer of assets

7. Whenever a Coptic Orthodox parish shall be duly divided by the Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese in which the parish is located into two parishes within that diocese, then the bishop or his successor shall have the right and power, by himself and independently of any action or consent on the part of the trustees of the original church corporation to transfer assets, with or without valuable consideration, from the original church corporation to the new or second church corporation. That transfer shall be made by the bishop or his successor after having complied with the requirements imposed upon the trustees of any religious corporation under Title 16 of the Revised Statutes before making a transfer of church property. L.1993,c.148,s.7.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026