Legal Question in Business Law in California

I recommend that you form a Nonprofit Religious Corporation under California Corporations Code Title 1, Division 2, Part 4. This includes Sections 9110 to 9690. Part 6 also provides for a so-called "Corporation Sole" which I believe is obsolete and not recommended.

You should become familiar with the requirements of the law, preferably through an experienced attorney, and design your business plan to conform to it, rather than shopping around for laws that will allow you to run it your way.

Mr. Whipple is correct that the proper form of business entity for a church in California (and any other state I know of) would be a Non-profit Religious Corporation or a general non-profit corporation. Every state has laws providing for setting up non-profit corporations that do not require shareholders or financial stakes in the corporation. So any state that does not have specific non-profit religious corporation laws would use the general non-profit corporation form. Although I have never been asked to create a Religious Corporation, I have incorporated a number of non-profits, and have served on the boards of each of them, as well as others that existed before I joined the board. If I can be of assistance with your projects, please let me know.