Chapter 187 — RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES

187.01 Religious societies. (1) HOW FORMED. The members, over 18 years of age, not less than three in number, of any church or society of any religious sect or denomination which shall have been organized in this state and which, at the time, maintains regular public worship may,…

187.02 Existing societies confirmed; may reorganize. Every existing church, congregation or religious society heretofore incorporated is hereby established and confirmed and shall continue to be governed by the statutes now applicable thereto, notwithstanding the same are repeale…

187.03 Failure to elect trustees. No failure to elect trustees at the proper time shall work a dissolution of any corporation formed under this chapter, and those once elected shall hold their offices until their successors are elected. In case of the dissolution of any such corp…

187.04 Episcopal church. The rectors, wardens and vestry being the trustees of each Episcopal church may be chosen at Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. 2 such times and in such manner as may be in conformity with the rules and usages thereof. Each such church heretofore or hereafter inco…

187.05 Organizations other than churches. (1) TRUSTEES; TERMS; PURPOSES. Any diocesan council or convention, conference, synod or other body of authorized representatives of any church or religious denomination or association or congregation thereof may elect any number of truste…

187.06 May take title to property. Every such corporation may be empowered by the body electing them to take and hold the title to church property, both real and personal, of the church and religious denomination for which it is created, which is used or designated to be used for…

187.07 Title to vest in trustees. (1) All lands, tenements and hereditaments that have been or may hereafter be lawfully conveyed by demise, gift, grant, purchase or otherwise to any persons as trustees, in trust for the use of any religious society organized or which may be here…

187.08 Devolution of property of defunct societies. If any such society, organized under ss. 187.01 to 187.07, owning any real estate in this state, shall be or become dissolved by removal, withdrawal or death of its members, so that there is no acting organization thereof for a …

187.09 Existing organizations legalized. Every religious or religious educational and charitable society organized or attempted to be organized under ch. 47, Revised Statutes of 1849, or ch. 66, Revised Statutes of 1858, or ch. 91, Revised Statutes of 1878, and the acts amendator…

187.10 Congregational church. (1) INCORPORATION. The adult members, not less than three in number, of any Congregational church, known as such in both government and name, which shall have been organized in this state and which at the time maintains regular public worship, may af…

187.11 Property of Church of Christ or Christian Church. Whenever any local religious society of the denomination known as the Church of Christ or the Christian Church that accepts Crossroads College, or any predecessor or successor organization of Crossroads College, as its miss…

187.13 Missionary corporations. (1) INCORPORATION. (a) Any 10 persons, over 18 years of age, who are members of churches of any religious sect or denomination, which churches have been or may hereafter be incorporated under the laws of this state and maintain regular public worsh…

187.14 Consolidation of church corporations or congregations. (1) Whenever the members of two or more incorporated religious societies of the same church, sect, denomination or ecclesiastical connection shall desire to consolidate said societies, such consolidation may be effecte…

187.15 Methodist property. (1) All trustees who have May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 187.15 RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES been, or may hereafter be chosen or appointed in any society or by any conference of The Methodist Church, (known in this state prior to 1939…

187.16 Salvation Army. (1) INCORPORATION. Any corps of the Salvation Army in the state of Wisconsin may become incorporated as a charitable, educational, missionary, philanthropic, beneficial and religious organization, by the commander in chief of the Salvation Army in the Unite…

187.17 Eastern Orthodox Church. (1) DEFINITION. As used in this section, the term “Eastern Orthodox Church,” also known as the “Greek Orthodox Church” includes the following established and operating jurisdictions of that church: (a) The jurisdiction of the Orthodox Ecumenical Pa…

187.19 Roman Catholic church. (1) BISHOP MAY INCORPORATE. The provisions of this chapter, except this section and subch. II, shall not apply to or in any manner affect the Roman Catholic church or denomination, or any society or religious corporation now existing or which may be …

187.20 Indemnification by incorporated Roman Catholic church; definitions. In ss. 187.20 to 187.28: (1) “Director or officer” means any of the following: (a) An individual who is serving as a president, vice president, treasurer or secretary of an incorporated Roman Catholic chur…

187.21 Indemnification of directors and officers. (1) An incorporated Roman Catholic church shall indemnify a director or officer, to the extent he or she has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of a proceeding, for all reasonable expenses incurred in the pr…

187.22 Determination of voluntary indemnification. Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws or by written agreement between the director or officer and the incorporated Roman Catholic church, the director or officer seeking indemnification under s. 187…

187.23 Allowance of expenses as incurred. Upon written request by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding, an incorporated Roman Catholic church may pay or reimburse his or her reasonable expenses as incurred if the director or officer provides the incorporated Roman…

187.24 Authority to limit indemnification. (1) The obligation of an incorporated Roman Catholic church to indemnify under s. 187.21 (1) and its authority to indemnify under s. 187.21 (2) may be limited as follows: (a) If the incorporated Roman Catholic church is incorporated on o…

187.25 Additional rights to indemnification and allowance of expenses. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), ss. 187.21 and 187.23 do not preclude any additional right to indemnification or allowance of expenses that a director or officer may have under any of the following: (a) Th…

187.26 Court-ordered indemnification. (1) Except as provided otherwise by written agreement between the director or officer and the incorporated Roman Catholic church, a director or officer who has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of a proceeding may appl…

187.27 Indemnification and allowance of expenses of employees and agents. An incorporated Roman Catholic church may indemnify and allow reasonable expenses of an employee or agent who is not a director or officer to the extent provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws, …

187.28 Insurance. An incorporated Roman Catholic church may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is an employee, agent, director or officer of the incorporated Roman Catholic church against liability asserted against and incurred by the individual in his…

187.30 Definitions applicable to liability-related provisions. In ss. 187.30 to 187.33: (1) “Director” means an individual who is serving as a director of an incorporated Roman Catholic church under s. 187.19 (5). (2) “Incorporated Roman Catholic church” has the meaning given in …

187.31 Reliance by directors or officers. Unless the director or officer knew or should have known that reliance was unwarranted, a director or officer, in discharging his or her duties to the incorporated Roman Catholic church, may rely on information, opinions, reports or state…

187.32 Limited liability of directors and officers. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a director or officer is not liable to the incorporated Roman Catholic church, its members or creditors, or any person asserting rights on behalf of the incorporated Roman Catholic church, its…

187.33 Limited liability of volunteers. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “volunteer” means an individual, other than an employee of the incorporated Roman Catholic church, who provides services to or on behalf of the incorporated Roman Catholic church without compensation. (2) IM…

187.40 Definitions. In this subchapter: (1) “Director” means an individual who is serving as a trustee or director of a religious organization or an individual who is serving in a similar capacity in a religious organization. (2) “Religious organization” means an association, con…

187.41 Reliance by directors or officers. Unless the director or officer knew or should have known that reliance was unwarranted, a director or officer, in discharging his or her duties to a religious organization, may rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, any of …

187.42 Limited liability of directors and officers. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), a director or officer is not liable to the religious organization, its members or creditors, or any person asserting rights on behalf of the religious organization, its members or creditors, o…

187.43 Limited liability of volunteers. (1) In this section, “volunteer” means an individual, other than an employee of the religious organization, who provides services to or on behalf of the religious organization without compensation. (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a volu…

187.44 Applicability of other liability provisions. This subchapter does not affect any powers and privileges granted under s. 187.01 (2) to religious societies formed under s. 187.01. History: 1995 a. 260. May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)