Notwithstanding any other general, special or local law, all religious corporations or churches heretofore authorized to use, or known by, the names "The Methodist Church," "The Evangelical United Brethren Church," "Methodist Episcopal Church," "Methodist Protestant Church," or "Methodist Episcopal Church South," and all societies, conferences, boards, associations or other organizations directly connected therewith, are hereby authorized and empowered to assume and use the name "The United Methodist Church."
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit, change, affect or alter any other existing right, power, property, obligation, liability or duty of any such religious corporation or church.