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West Virginia Incorporation of Religious Denominations and Churches Amendment

West Virginia Ballot Measure - SJR 4 - Amendment 3

Election: Nov. 8, 2022 (General)

Outcome: Failed

Categories:

Religion

Summary

The amendment would amend Article VI of the state constitution to remove the prohibition on incorporating religious denominations and churches and authorize the state legislature to provide for the incorporation of churches or religious denominations by law.

West Virginia is the sole state that has a prohibition against incorporating religious denominations and churches.

Measure Text

Article VI. The Legislature.

§47. Incorporation of religious denominations permitted.

Provisions may be made by general laws for securing the title to church property, and for the sale and transfer thereof, so that it shall be held, used, or transferred for the purposes of such church or religious denomination. Provisions may also be made by general laws for the incorporation of churches or religious denominations.

Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, such amendment is hereby numbered “Amendment No. 1” and designated as the “Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment” and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows:“To authorize the incorporation of churches or religious denominations.”

Resources

Official Summary

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