New York Consolidated Laws, Religious Corporations Law - RCO § 321-a. Use of certain names by religious corporations

1. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter or of any general, special or local law, the two denominations formerly known as The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church having united into one under the name of The United Methodist Church, all religious corporations or churches heretofore authorized to use or be known by the names Methodist Church or Evangelical United Brethren Church, and all societies, conferences, boards, associations, corporations or other organizations duly connected therewith or subsidiary thereto shall eliminate from their respective names the word or words The Methodist Church or Evangelical United Brethren or add The United Methodist Church, as the case may be and all such churches, corporations and other organizations shall hereinafter be known by such names as changed and amended by this section.

2. The changes and names provided for by this section shall not in any respect change the identity or affect, abate, defeat, alter or annul any of the rights, privileges, property rights, obligations, liabilities or duties of any of said churches or corporations aforesaid, all of which shall remain in full force and effect as though their respective names had not been so changed.

3. All churches, corporations, organizations or unincorporated associations using the changed names as provided in this section shall continue to have and be possessed of all of the interest, property and rights to which they are or may become entitled under their former corporate names or other respective designations.