Insurance for Churches & Other Religious Organizations

All Saints Episcopal Church
Photo Copyright 2011, Jack Shirley

Need Insurance? - Being a good steward of your church's assets includes insurance protection. We are your Commercial Insurance specialists. Let us review your organization's insurance and guide you to the insurance coverage your group needs.

Why we're different from the other online business insurance sites:

• Quotes Quick - We do our best to expedite your quote.
• Service After the Sale - Local friendly service for over 30 years.
• Knowledgeable Help - We help you understand your insurance choices.
• Broad Range - We offer a wide range of business insurance programs.
• Walk-in Service Available - Visit us at our South Austin office - Map, Directions and Contact Information      

Ready to Start an Insurance Quote for Your Church?

Insurance Concerns for Religious Organizations

Pastoral Professional Liability - Pastoral counseling is an important role for your priest, rabbi or other worship leaders. Coverage for damages arising from professional errors & omissions involving this fundamental activity helps protect the organization. See link: Professional Liability

Public Liability - A General Liability Insurance policy or liability component of a broader policy handles your organization's public liability while holding worship services and other events or you premise. General Liability coverage is a typical requirement for a lease location. Religious organization have a higher than normal premise liability risk because their activities are often large public group events including worship services. A Commercial Umbrella can provide additional levels of liability protection beyond what is available with the General Liability policy for public liability and other lawsuit risks.

Protecting Group Leaders - Members of the vestry or governing board can be individually sued by stakeholders for mistakes made in overseeing the religious organization. Attracting leaders is critical for any organization. Having Directors & Officers Insurance policy is essential in retaining these leaders.

Employment Practices - Like any employer, a religious group can be held liable for mistakes in handling employment relationships. Churches and similar groups are particular venerable since they won't have the "HR Department" to enforce compliance with the legal requirements of non-discrimination and other rules. Employment Practices Liability Insurance can be important component of your group's protection.

Safeguarding Assets - Congregations can have substantial investments in mission critical buildings, contents and vehicles. A sensible program of insuring for large property losses can be important. See link for Commercial Property Insurance.

Churches, Synagogues and other religious buildings can be targeted by burglars for theft of valuable religious items. Appropriate security procedures and equipment such as a monitored alarm are often both sensible and required for theft insurance coverage. Be sure to review your Crime Coverage in your overall business insurance package.

Groups in leased buildings need insurance protection for their tenant improvements (built-out of leased space) and contents.

Sexual & Physical Abuse - Religious organizations typically have an education and outreach program for children and young adults. In addition to appropriate screening of teachers and policies to protect children, insurance protection for the organization to defend against accusations of sexual or physical abuse is still needed.

Money - Many transactions including collecting the weekly offering involve handling cash and checks. The first defense is appropriate accounting controls. Insurance protection for robbery, forgery and employee dishonesty should also be considered.

Staff Injuries - As the organization grows large enough to have hired staff, protecting the organization from the potential of lawsuits from injuries to employees can be critical insurance defense. See Workers Compensation Insurance.

Group Benefit Plan - Attracting and retaining skilled staff comes with the need for a group benefit plan particularly group health insurance.

Auto Related Risks - Auto insurance risks can be very complex for religious groups.
       Many non-profit organizations are depending on volunteers to use their own autos. These non-owned autos are potential lawsuit risks to the organization. Protect your group from these non-owned autos as part of your business insurance package.
       A congregation can also own their own vans (even large buses) used to pickup members on service days and for group trips. Screening of potential drivers is critical. Insurance protection is needed for both the vehicles as assets and the liability involved in their use. Link: Business Auto Insurance

Other Resources