The persons signing said articles may, at the same time, elect by ballot, or may designate some other time and place for so electing, not less than 3 nor more than 12 trustees, a majority of whom shall be members of said church, to serve until their successors shall be elected. One-third of said trustees as near as may be shall, at the first election, be chosen for 3 years, 1/3 for 2 years, and 1/3 for 1 year, but thereafter, except to fill vacancies, they shall be chosen for 3 years, of which election a full record shall be made, and a certified copy of such record, signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the meeting at which said election is held, together with said articles of association, shall be filed with the corporation and securities bureau of the department of commerce. When said articles of association and the certificate of election of said trustees shall have been so filed for record, the persons who shall have signed said articles, together with those who shall thereafter become members of said church, and, if the articles of association so provide, those persons, being of legal age, who are, and those who shall become regular contributors to the support of said church, shall become and be a body corporate under the name and style adopted in said articles, which name shall conform to the following form, namely: The (insert name or number) Congregational church of (insert name of place of location).
MCL 458.302