2016 New York Laws
RCO - Religious Corporations
Article 17 - (Religious Corporations) METHODIST CHURCHES
321-A - Use of certain names by religious corporations.

   321-a.   Use  of  certain  names  by  religious  corporations.  1.
  Notwithstanding any provisions  of  this  chapter  or  of  any  general,
  special  or  local  law,  the  two  denominations  formerly known as The
  Methodist Church and  The  Evangelical  United  Brethren  Church  having
  united  into  one  under  the  name  of The United Methodist Church, all
  religious corporations or churches heretofore authorized to  use  or  be
  known  by  the  names  Methodist  Church  or Evangelical United Brethren
  Church,  and   all   societies,   conferences,   boards,   associations,
  corporations   or   other  organizations  duly  connected  therewith  or
  subsidiary thereto shall eliminate from their respective names the  word
  or  words The Methodist Church or Evangelical United Brethren or add The
  United Methodist Church, as the case  may  be  and  all  such  churches,
  corporations  and other organizations shall hereinafter be known by such
  names as changed and amended by this section.
2. The changes and names provided for by this section shall not in any
  respect change the identity or affect, abate, defeat, alter or annul any
  of the rights, privileges, property rights, obligations, liabilities  or
  duties  of  any of said churches or corporations aforesaid, all of which
  shall remain in full force and effect as though their  respective  names
  had not been so changed.
3.   All   churches,  corporations,  organizations  or  unincorporated
  associations using the changed names as provided in this  section  shall
  continue  to  have and be possessed of all of the interest, property and
  rights to which they are or  may  become  entitled  under  their  former
  corporate names or other respective designations.