Support

An act to amend the religious corporations law, in relation to providing a means of incorporation for churches affiliated with the Elim Fellowship

Elim Fellowship began in 1933 as an informal fellowship of churches, ministers and missionary endeavors, developing from individuals trained at Elim Bible Institute (Lima, NY). Elim Fellowship has grown into a worldwide fellowship serving pastors, churches, missionaries and other Christian ministers.

The Fellowship is a member of:

• Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)
• National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
• International Pentecostal Association (IPA)
• Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (PCCNA)
• Charismatic Leaders' Fellowship (CLF)
• North American Renewal Services Committee (NARSC)

In New York State, Elim Fellowship has approximately fifty affiliated churches and over forty other independent churches whose pastors are credentialed through Elim Fellowship, but its structure and church polity does not permit compatibility with existing Religious Corporations Law (RCL).

Namely, Elim Fellowship does not refer to itself as a “denomination” with a system of congregational government, but Elim does offer similar accountability structures and services consistent with those offered by denominations.

The proposed bill introduces language that would permit Elim Fellowship to incorporate under New York State’s RCL, while allowing Elim Fellowship to maintain its unique religious and structural distinctions.

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms believes amending the state’s RCL is consistent with the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms urges passage of this bill.