Sources of Insurance for Churches and Ministries
It is convenient and often beneficial to rely on members of the congregation for
insurance advice and for the placement of coverage. The members have a vested
interest in protecting the church’s well-being and it gives the church the opportunity
to help a member’s business. However, care should be used to ensure that the
member understands the insurance needs of the church and can place that coverage
with a company whose policies are designed to meet the specific needs of religious
organizations.
1. Select an agent with experience in working with churches. An agent who
regularly works with churches is more likely to have authority to place
business with companies that serve the church market (e.g. GuideOne,
Church Mutual, The Brotherhood, Philadelphia, etc.)
2. Ask for references from other churches. You may also want to seek
recommendations from other churches in your area, your district or
conference.
3. If your policy is not placed with a company that specializes in the church
market, make sure that the policy has endorsements that provide coverage
that meets the minimum insurance requirements.
4. Pay attention to sexual misconduct, pastoral counseling liability, and
coverage for property (e.g. stained glass) and other exposures (e.g. day care,
recreational sports) that may be excluded under normal business owners
policies designed to meet the needs of for-profit small businesses.
The United Methodist Insurance Program is available to all churches and agencies that
are or have been a part of the United Methodist connection. UMIP’s exclusive agent is
Sovereign Insurance Group (Sovereign). Sovereign relationship with 20 carriers that focus on churches, is able to serve specialty markets like summer camps, and has been providing insurance to houses of worship, denominations, and non-profits for 60 years.
This content has been prepared by United Methodist Insurance Company (UMI) for informational purposes only. No article or document may accurately contemplate all possible scenarios or church resources. As such, this information is meant to foster discussion by the individual church and its members to develop a plan tailored to its own circumstances. UMI is providing this information with no warranties or guarantees of any kind and it should not be viewed as legal, financial, or other professional advice. All liability is expressly disclaimed. Any claim examples described herein are general in nature, may or may not be based on actual claims, and are for informational purposes only. Any coverage available for a claim is determined from the facts and circumstances of the claim as well as the terms and conditions of any applicable policy, including any exclusions or deductibles. In the event of a conflict with the content herein, the terms and conditions of any issued policy will control. Individual coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.
The commercial insurance coverages for United Methodist Insurance are sold and serviced directly or indirectly by Sovereign Insurance Agency (CA Lic. No. 0B01380) ("Sovereign") and underwritten by various available insurance markets. Sovereign pays United Methodist Insurance a royalty for the use of its intellectual property.
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