Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.178 (2026)

Ecclesiastical corporations; incorporation; purpose.

✓ current as of July 2026

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MICHIGAN GENERAL CORPORATION STATUTE

Act 327 of 1931

450.178 Ecclesiastical corporations; incorporation; purpose.

Sec. 178.

Ecclesiastical corporations. Any number of persons, not less than 3, may incorporate for the purpose of establishing any church organization for the purpose of teaching and spreading their religious beliefs and principles. Every such corporation shall be a non-profit corporation and subject to the provisions of this act relating to non-profit corporations generally except as specifically otherwise provided. The term "church" and/or "church organization" used in this act shall be construed to include any church, denominational unit, or church society as the term is commonly used and understood but shall not apply to such organizations as Sunday schools, Epworth Leagues, Young People's Unions, Bible classes and similar societies organized by and affiliated with the parent churches. Whenever any number of churches or other corporations organized for religious purposes desire to unite in a central organization for the accomplishment of any common purpose they may incorporate such organization by severally adopting, at meetings specially called for the purpose, resolutions expressing their desire to become members of such corporation; and by filing duly attested copies of such resolutions together with a copy of the articles of such corporation, as provided for the filing of articles in section 5 of this act. The corporations formed under this section are hereinafter called ecclesiastical corporations.

History: 1931, Act 327, Eff. Sept. 18, 1931 ;-- CL 1948, 450.178

Compiler's Notes:

The catchline following the act section number was incorporated as part of the section when the act was enacted.

FormerLaw Notes:

See section 5 of Ch. I of Part I of Act 84 of 1921, being CL 1929, § 9947; and section 1 of Ch. III of Part IV of Act 84 of 1921, being CL 1929, § 10109.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1954–2022 · leading case: Bennison v. Sharp, 329 N.W.2d 466 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Bennison v. Sharp, 329 N.W.2d 466 (Mich. Ct. App. 1982). “A new ecclesiastical corporation was formed by the majority under MCL 450.178; MSA 21.179, in affiliation with the Anglican Catholic Church, under the name of St.”

Congregation B'nai Jacob v. City of Oak Park, 302 N.W.2d 296 (Mich. Ct. App. 1981). “Congregation B’nai Jacob is a Michigan corporation duly organized and existing under MCL 450.178 et seq.; MSA 21.179 et seq. It is "doing business” under the name "Kollel Institute for Advanced Religious Learning”.”

First Protestant Reformed Church v. DeWolf, 75 N.W.2d 19 (Mich. 1956). “* See CL 1948, § 450.178 (Stat Ann § 21.179).”

Holt v. Trone, 67 N.W.2d 125 (Mich. 1954). “We note that the church was incorporated under and by virtue of the authority contained in CL 1948, §§450.178, 450.179 (Stat Ann §§ 21.179, 21.”

Timothy Bogle v. Lorenzo Sewell (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “” MCL 450.178. 2 Though the Church did not specifically describe these as articles of incorporation, under the Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Act, MCL 450.”

In Re the Church in Bloomfield (Mich. Ct. App. 2022). “ANALYSIS The CIB is a Michigan ecclesiastical corporation, MCL 450.178, and is subject to the Nonprofit Corporation Act, MCL 450.”

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