A religious organization is so much more than four walls and a roof. Our church insurance specialists understand the unique role you provide, and build custom plans to provide coverage across all facets of your service.
A church is more than a place of worship – it’s also a community center, an employer, and it’s often a daycare center, education provider, grief or social counselor, and can even be a home. We offer customized insurance options that fit all of these unique needs.
When insuring a church you need to think of it as a building, of course. But it is also as a community group, an employer, and in some cases a priest’s home. That’s why specialized church insurance is your best route to financial peace of mind.
A good church policy doesn’t just take care of the obvious costs such as property damage from theft, vandalism, or natural disaster, but also the unexpected associated costs. This could include having to update the building to comply with local ordinances when carrying out repairs after an incident, or could include damages to people injured while on church property.
Ordinary policies often miss important coverage items, including defibrillators or other equipment needed for large groups of visitors, the personal property of a pastor, and even the costs of repairing or replacing stained glass windows.
You can also get coverage for liability issues, travel risks on mission trips, and the costs of recruiting a suitable pastor if a replacement becomes necessary.
To find out more about specialized church insurance options, contact us today.
Contact Information
Get in touch with our Personal or Business Insurance Departments.
P: 904-573-9394B: 904-396-1440
Office@ErwinIns.com
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Stained Glass Insurance
Risk Factor
Stained glass is often very valuable and sometimes priceless. Several hundreds of thousands of dollars might be needed to refurbish the stained glass. If it’s damaged by vandalism, hail, fire, or other means, it can be very costly to fix. Finding a qualified contractor may also be challenging.
Solution
Depending upon your insurance coverage, an appraisal of your stained glass damage could be free of charge. In addition, consider including the value of the stained glass in the building limit of the church, and also include coverage under the church’s blanket limit. Some insurance companies may treat stained glass as part of a fine arts floater. Either way, this helps ensure the proper coverage in the event that something bad happens.
Abuse and Molestation Insurance
Risk Factor
There are hundreds of reports each year of people being sexually abused by clergy, church staff, volunteers, and congregation members. Countless more are abused without any report being made.
Solution
Obtain the proper abuse or molestation coverage to protect the church in the event of an allegation arises. In addition, consider having a written document to address how to prevent sexual abuse from happening and what to do in the event of an allegation.
Non-Owned Auto Insurance
Risk Factor
Church volunteers and employees often use personal vehicles to do work for the church.
Solution
Make sure to add hired and non-owned auto coverage to the church’s insurance policy to cover this exposure. Also, check the motor vehicle records for anyone who drives other members…especially kids.
Religious Freedom Insurance
Risk Factor
Churches sometimes have very closely held beliefs that may open them up to potential lawsuits in the event the church’s beliefs cause someone else to feel wronged. An example might be a church refusing to perform a same-sex marriage, which results in a lawsuit.
Solution
Consider adding religious freedom coverage. This insurance can protect the church in the event it is sued because of closely-held beliefs core to the church.
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (D&O)
Risk Factor
Almost all churches have some form of board of directors that makes financial and operational decisions on behalf of the congregation. An organization once sued a church for improperly using their trademarked property while promoting a fundraising event. The total loss and defense costs totaled $400,000.
Solution
Directors and officers liability insurance protects the decision-makers of the church from lawsuits and claims. Instead of suing the individuals directly, the lawsuit would be defended by the church’s D&O policy. Most people who serve on a board in a volunteer capacity should demand this coverage before serving.
Church Roof
Risk Factor
Roof claims are the most common claims that churches face. Each year, billions of dollars of damage are typically paid as a result of storm damage.
Solution
Ensure you have the proper coverage and confirm that you are insured to full replacement value. In addition, make sure your insurance policy includes replacement cost coverage for roof claims for wind and hail.
Church Security
Risk Factor
Security in churches is becoming a larger issue as attacks have increased in recent years.
Solution
Every church should have a security plan. This plan should detail where parishioners go in the event of an emergency, which entrances are open during worship times, who should contact the authorities, how to spot someone who may pose a security risk, and how to react to someone who is trying to cause harm to parishioners.
Professional Liability Insurance
Risk Factor
Religious Leaders often find themselves giving counseling to couples or other church members. In addition, religious leaders could be at risk of a lawsuit for what they say in the pulpit.
Solution
When it comes to counseling, religious leaders should have clear guidelines on what is acceptable in a counseling situation. In addition, religious leaders should be trained to know what needs to be reported to the authorities in the event of an extreme situation. Adding professional liability coverage to your church’s insurance policy can help protect the religious leader and church from claims or lawsuits arising from what the religious leader says at the pulpit or when teaching or preaching.
Erwin Insurance Agency has offices in Florida and New York, but our reach extends into all of the southeast and as far west as Washington state. In all, we’re licensed in 17 states, including Florida, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Indiana, Alabama, West Virginia, Washington, and New Jersey.
Specialist: Laurie Newmes, CLCS
Get in touch.
As an independent agency, we offer multiple options at competitive prices.
