Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 55 Part 1.djvu/903

 [55 STAT. bylaws, and regulations to carry out its purposes, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States or the laws of the Canal Zone; (e) may establish and maintain offices for the conduct of its affairs; (f) may acquire by purchase, devise, bequest, gift, or otherwise, and hold, own, use, assign, and dispose of such real estate and personal property as shall be deemed advisable, and may accept bequests for the purposes of this corporation hereinafter set forth; (g) may under terms and conditions satisfactory to the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America, a corporation of the State of New York, acquire all the assets of the existing Union Church of the Canal Zone upon assuming all of its obligations; (h) may continue the local churches of The Union Church of the Canal Zone now existing on the Isthmus of Panama and establish such additional local churches within the Canal Zone as may be deemed desirable for the purposes of the corporation as hereinafter set forth and may dis- continue any such local church at pleasure; and (i) generally may do any and all lawful acts necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes for which the corporation is created. OBJECT AND PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION SEC. 3. The object and purpose of the corporation shall be to con- tinue in corporate form The Union Church of the Canal Zone. Its activities shall be determined in the constitution and bylaws estab- lished in accordance with this Act. MEMBERSHIP SEO. 4 . The membership of The Union Church of the Canal Zone shall consist of persons admitted to membership in any local church thereof, either through the said members' own connection with an evangelical denomination in the United States, or as may be otherwise provided in the constitution and bylaws established in accordance with this Act. CHURCH ORGANIZATION General council. SEC. 5. (a) There shall be (1) a general council which, except as otherwise provided in this Act, shall exercise the corporate powers and have general control over matters common to all local churches; Board o trustees. (2) a board of trustees which shall hold for the use of the member- ship of The Union Church all property and property rights of The Union Church, subject'to proper orders of the general council or the Local councls. membership of the corporation; and (3) a local council for each of the local churches. Constituon to pro- (b) The constitution and bylaws authorized to be established by Visions. o this Act (1) shall prescribe the number, qualifications, the method of selection and the terms of office of members of the general council, the Composition of board of trustees, and the local councils: Provided, That the board of bordoftrustees. trustees thereafter selected shall consist of not more than nineteen persons and not less than nine, all of whom shall be citizens of the United States: Providedfurther, That each of the local churches shall elect at least one member of the board of trustees, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America shall elect or appoint four members, Officers of councils and the general council shall elect the other members, if any; (2) nd boad of tr. shall specify the officers of the said councils and board and prescribe the methods of their selection, the terms of office, and their respective Pastors. duties and responsibilities: And provided further, That the local councils shall, with the approval of the general council, select their own pastors who shall be citizens of the United States and shall be entitled to receive such privileges of employees of the Panama Canal 878 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 643-DEC. 31, 1941

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