§ 126.004.Powers and Duties

The powers, in three subsections that move from preservation to disposal.

The receiver shall take charge of all property belonging to the religious congregation and administer that property under the direction of the court for the best interests of the religious congregation.

The standard is the congregation’s best interests, not the receiver’s judgment, and everything is done under the direction of the court — so the receiver is an officer of the court rather than a substitute for the congregation’s own governance.

If necessary to preserve the property, the receiver may sell it under order of the court.

Selling to preserve sounds contradictory until the situation is pictured. An empty building deteriorates, taxes accrue, insurance lapses; converting it to money can be what saves the value.

Subsection (c) addresses the case where there is nothing left to revive. The court shall order the public or private sale of property belonging to a religious congregation that may not be revived or reorganized within a reasonable time.

Note that the duty here is the court’s, and it is mandatory. The receiver sells to preserve; the court orders sale where the congregation is beyond recovery.

"Public or private sale" leaves the method open, which allows a sale to a neighbouring congregation without an auction.

The proceeds are delivered to the receiver, who shall use them for a religious congregation of like faith.

That last direction is the chapter’s purpose in one clause. Property given for religious use stays in religious use of the same tradition rather than reverting to donors or escheating to the state.