Prior to 1883 there were frequent controversies about who owned Wisconsin church properties. Sometimes the land was deeded directly to the archbishop as in St. Boniface’s case. Other times it was held by locally appointed trustees. Sometimes these trustees would battle with the pastor about his salary, who could write out checks and who got the Christmas collection. In 1883, the State of Wisconsin executed laws about church incorporation for all denominations. The Catholic structure is still used. For each parish, the archbishop creates a five member corporation to conduct its civil affairs (ie. hold property, manage money, hire employees, etc.) with himself as president, the pastor as vice-president, the vicar general as a member at large and two elected parishioners as secretary and treasurer. These corporations are known as “congregations,” so St. Boniface Parish has a parallel organization known as “St. Boniface Congregation”. Established in 1886, it is governs the parish’s secular affairs in conjunction with a Finance Council. Its parishioner members and their membership terms are listed below.