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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67767</law_id><section_number>57-14</section_number><catch_line>Suits by members to have land sold or mortgaged</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>57-15.1</reference><reference>57-18</reference><reference>57-19</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="57">Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="2">Church Property; Benevolent Associations and Objects</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Property Held for Religious Purposes</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Whenever the governing body of any church diocese or any religious congregation whose property is held by trustees, for whose use a conveyance, devise, or dedication of land has been lawfully made, shall deem that their interest will be promoted by a sale of the whole or a part of such land, or by a mortgage thereof, or deed of trust thereon, it shall be lawful for any member of such church diocese or congregation, in his name and on behalf of the other members thereof, to <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> a suit for either of such purposes in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the county, or <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> of the city, in which such land or the greater part thereof lies, against the trustees or the survivors of them in whom the legal title is; and it shall be lawful for such <span class="dictionary">court</span>, if a proper case be made, and it appears that the governing body of the church diocese or the congregation has given its assent thereto in the mode prescribed by its authorities, and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> be of <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> that the rights of others will not be violated thereby, to <span class="dictionary">order</span> the sale of such land or part thereof, or the execution of such mortgage or deed of trust, and make such <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of the proceeds of such sale as the governing body of the church diocese or congregation may desire.</p></section></text><history>Code 1919, &#xA7; 45; 1962, c. 516; 2005, c. 772.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
