17-1716b. Same; determination of whether church extinct.
17-1716b
17-1716b. Same; determination of whether church extinct.
(a) Any Congregational Church, Congregational and Christian
Church or any church or society affiliated with the Kansas Congregational
and Christian Conference, the Central-South Conference of the Congregational-Christian
Churches and the Kansas City Synod of the Evangelical and Reformed Church,
in this state which (1) has ceased or failed to maintain
religious worship or services, or to use its property for religious
worship or services according to the tenets, usages and customs of such
church or society in this state for a period of two
consecutive years immediately
prior thereto, or to protect its property from exposure,
waste and dilapidation, or to fulfill the purposes for which it was
organized, created or incorporated; or (2) has diminished in membership
or financial strength so as to render it impossible or impracticable for
any such church or society to maintain its organization, shall be deemed and taken to be
extinct and may by an order of the district court of the county in which
such church or society has been theretofore situated to be so declared
extinct and dissolved. Thereupon all the property of every kind of
such church or society, or property which may be held in trust for such
church or society shall be transferred to, and the title and possession
thereof vested absolutely in the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the United
Church of Christ.
(b) This section shall not affect any existing reversionary interests
in the property or any liens existing thereon.
(c) The intent and purpose of this section is to preserve for religious
purposes all property owned by or held in trust for any such extinct church or society.
History: L. 1933, ch. 157, § 2; L. 1981, ch. 100, § 2; July 1.