Methodist Church

V.S.A. tit. 27, ch. 7, subch. 5

in effect

27 V.S.A. § 861 Powers of trustees to hold realty

861. Powers of trustees to hold realty The trustees of the several circuits and stations of the United Methodist Church and their successors in office shall have corporate powers, with perpetuity, for the purpose of taking and holding real or personal estate to support religious worship or for church sites, buildings, or parsonages and to maintain and support deaconesses’ homes and other religious work. Amended 1969, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 5, 1970.

27 V.S.A. § 862 Powers of trustees to convey

862. Powers of trustees to convey Such trustees and their successors in office may convey such real estate, if authorized by a majority vote of the members of a quarterly conference in the circuit or station where such estate is situated, and, by vote duly recorded, may authorize one of their number to convey such property. Amended 2015, No. 72 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 12, 2016.

27 V.S.A. § 863 Powers as to campgrounds

863. Powers as to campgrounds Such trustees and their successors in office may erect within their respective circuits, upon grounds used for camp meetings under the usages of such church, boarding tents for such persons as attend and furnish board and lodging during such meetings.

27 V.S.A. § 864 Property of extinct circuits or stations

864. Property of extinct circuits or stations All property of any kind belonging to or held in trust by any circuit or station of the United Methodist Church within the bounds of the Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist church in the State of Vermont which by order of the Superior Court may be declared extinct or dissolved, shall be transferred to and the title and possession vested in the Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, a corporation, under the following circumstances: (1) when such circuit or station has become or shall become extinct by the death or removal of all its members or otherwise; or (2) when the circuit or station has ceased or failed to maintain religious worship or services or to use its property for religious worship or services for the space of five years immediately prior thereto; or (3) when the membership of such circuit or station has so diminished in numbers or financial strength as to render it impossible or impracticable to maintain religious worship or services or to protect its property from exposure and waste or to fulfill the purpose for which such property was held. Amended 1969, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 5, 1970; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974; 2023, No. 6, § 349, eff. July 1, 2023.

27 V.S.A. § 865 Complaint to dissolve circuit or station

865. Complaint to dissolve circuit or station The trustees of the Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church or any member of the board of trustees, when duly authorized by a vote of the board, may apply by complaint to the Superior Court within the county where the circuit or station is located for the relief prayed for in section 864 of this title. Upon the filing of the complaint, a hearing shall be had upon such notice as shall be ordered by the court. If upon hearing it shall be found by the court that the case is brought within the provisions of section 864 and that the transfer of property prayed for ought, in equity and good conscience, to be made, the court shall make a decree in the premises that the circuit or station in question is dissolved or extinct and transfer the property described in the complaint to the Troy Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to be held and used according to the discipline of the church and the provisions of its charter. Amended 1969, No. 180 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 5, 1970; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974; 2023, No. 6, § 350, eff. July 1, 2023.

27 V.S.A. § 866 Recording decrees affecting realty

866. Recording decrees affecting realty When any property affected by a decree of the Superior Court as provided for in section 865 of this title is real estate, a copy of such decree duly certified by the clerk of such court shall be recorded in the land records of the town where such property is situated. Amended 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/27/007Fetched: 10/21/2026