2009 Alabama Code
Title 10 — CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
Chapter 4 — PARTICULAR CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.
Section 10-4-22 Independence of church corporations in control of real property.

Independence of church corporations in control of real property.

(a) Unless otherwise clearly stated in the deed or other instrument under which any church corporation organized under the provisions of this article derives title or unless afterwards approved by a majority of the adult members of the congregation of such church at a meeting held after announcement from the pulpit of the church at least seven days from the date of the announcement, such church corporation, whether heretofore or hereafter organized and incorporated under the provisions of this article, shall be, and shall remain, a distinct and independent church corporation free from the regulation and control of any higher church body, denomination or other organization with which it is now, or hereafter, associated or affiliated insofar as the management, control, disposition or alienation of its real property is concerned.

(b) The provisions of this section shall in nowise be construed as conferring on any church organized under the provisions of this article greater power of control over its real property than it possessed prior to its passage nor shall the provisions of this section be construed as diminishing in any respect the control or supervision of the real property of such church organized under the provisions of this article exercised by any higher church body, denomination or other organization prior to its passage.