§ 171. Transfer of property. Any incorporated church of the United Church of Christ and any incorporated Congregational Christian church which is a member of the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ, created by or existing under the laws of the state of New York, having its principal office or place of worship in the state of New York, or whose last place of worship was within the state of New York, is hereby authorized and empowered, by the concurrent vote of two-thirds of its qualified voters present and voting therefor, at a meeting regularly called for that purpose, and of two-thirds of all its trustees, to direct the transfer and conveyance of any of its property, real or personal, which it now has or may hereafter acquire, to any religious, charitable or missionary corporation connected with the United Church of Christ and incorporated by or organized under any law of the state of New York, either solely, or among other purposes, to establish or maintain, or to assist in establishing or maintaining churches, schools or mission stations, or to erect or assist in the erection of such buildings as may be necessary for any of such purposes, with or without the payment of any money or other consideration therefor; and upon such concurrent votes being given, the trustees shall execute such transfer or conveyance; and upon the same being made, the title to and the ownership and right of possession of the property so transferred and conveyed shall be vested in and conveyed to such grantee; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall impair or affect in any way any existing claim upon or lien against any property so transferred or conveyed, or any action at law or legal proceeding; and such transfer shall be subject, in respect to the amount of property the said grantee may take and hold, to the restrictions and limitations of all laws then in force.
