Church Insurance
What if someone trips on the church rug and hurts himself? Who will be liable? The church of course. What if the scriptures get stolen? Who will compensate for that? The church authorities usually opt for church insurance for all such reasons. Although church insurance may vary depending on which state you are in, the basic structure of insurance still remains the same.
What does church insurance cover?
Property: The property insurance policy covers the church building, the contents of the church, signs as well as the property that is off-premises. Besides these, property insurance also covers:
- Any indirect loss to the church’s property
- Computers, electrical equipments and boilers
- Ordinances
- Kitchens and cooking appliances
- Pastor’s personal property
- Scriptures
- Stained glass
- Religious artifacts
- Religious books of great value
Liability: If the church is liable under any law as a result of its activities then this insurance provides protection. Personal injury to any third party is the responsibility of the church to compensate for. This policy covers for slander and defamation. If any third party falls sick or hurts himself within the premises of the church, the liability policy of the church insurance provides coverage. Medical treatment if required is also covered under this policy.
Liability coverage of church insurance covers all employees of the church, all officials as well as volunteers. Besides these it also covers pastor liability, any sexual misconduct within the church premises, molestation and abuse within the premises, employee compensations and the like.
What does church insurance not cover?
Modern day churches often have daycare centers that look after children while the parents attend service. These daycare centers also hold Sunday school classes. Accidents that occur in such daycare centers may be covered by church insurance up to a certain limit. But since these are not typically considered as church scenarios, hence churches who want to get these scenarios insured must mention these as extra coverage they are seeking.
How much does church insurance cost?
How much church insurance will cost depends greatly on which state it is located in. The size of the church also matters. Bigger churches that can hold more people will charge more money as premiums whereas small churches that can hold smaller number of people will be charged a comparatively lesser premium.
It is always better to have insurance. You never know where the church will be legally liable and an insurance policy might help the governing body of the church to fight a legal suit (if any). However, the church also possesses valuables that need to be protected and any loss of such valuable may be very big for the church.