Religious corporation
Encyclopedia
A religious corporation is a type of religious
non-profit organization
, which has been incorporated
under the law. Often these types of corporations are recognized under the law on a subnational level, for instance by a state or province
government. The government agency responsible for regulating such corporations is usually the official holder of records, for instance a state Secretary of State
.
Religious corporations are subject to less rigorous state and federal filing and reporting requirements than many other tax-exempt organizations, such as mutual benefit nonprofit corporation
s, or public benefit nonprofit corporation
s. Depending on the state in which they are located, they may also be exempt from some of the inspections or regulations governing non-religious groups performing the same services.
(please note that it is not related nor spelled similarly to "soul"). This is a person who acts as the official holder of title on property, etcetera.
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, which has been incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
under the law. Often these types of corporations are recognized under the law on a subnational level, for instance by a state or province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
government. The government agency responsible for regulating such corporations is usually the official holder of records, for instance a state Secretary of State
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
.
Religious corporations are subject to less rigorous state and federal filing and reporting requirements than many other tax-exempt organizations, such as mutual benefit nonprofit corporation
Mutual benefit nonprofit corporation
In the United States, a mutual-benefit nonprofit corporation or membership corporation is a type of nonprofit corporation chartered by a state government that exists to serve its members...
s, or public benefit nonprofit corporation
Public benefit nonprofit corporation
A public-benefit nonprofit corporation is a type of nonprofit corporation chartered by a state government. Public-benefit nonprofit corporations are distinct in the law from mutual-benefit nonprofit corporations in that they are organized for the general public benefit, rather than for the interest...
s. Depending on the state in which they are located, they may also be exempt from some of the inspections or regulations governing non-religious groups performing the same services.
Corporation sole
Religious corporations are permitted to designate a person to act in the capacity of corporation soleCorporation sole
A corporation sole is a legal entity consisting of a single incorporated office, occupied by a single man or woman. This allows a corporation to pass vertically in time from one office holder to the next successor-in-office, giving the position legal continuity with each subsequent office...
(please note that it is not related nor spelled similarly to "soul"). This is a person who acts as the official holder of title on property, etcetera.