How You Can Help Protect Your Church

Sep 27, 2021, 9:02 AM

For many people, a place of worship isn’t just somewhere to visit once a week; it’s a part of their community. It’s where they see their friends, celebrate life-changing events like weddings, and gather for activities open to everyone, such as youth groups and Bible studies.

A church, synagogue, mosque, or other worship center is much more than a building. It’s the property and the staff that need the insurance coverage Hastings Mutual can provide. Our Preferred Worship Centers coverage endorsement, previously known as our church program, features several types of coverage designed specifically for churches and similar spaces.

What do we offer?

Worship center coverage applies to the building (including stained glass windows), computers, and protection against disasters like fire or sewer backup, among other things. Those are the kinds of coverages we provide for many kinds of business.

Worship center endorsements also include coverage for business income and extra expense, money and securities (potentially very important during those times when a worship center is collecting a tithe or other contribution), appurtenant structures, musical instruments, and liability for officials like pastors and church leadership.

A place for people

Coverage extends to the people working with the worship center — not just religious leaders, but also counselors, officers, and directors who make sure the business side of the facility works smoothly. Optional coverage includes liability for directors and officers as well as pastors and trained non-clergy counselors (up to $1 million per occurrence and up to $2 million in total).

Another optional coverage is for sexual misconduct or sexual molestation, which applies to paying damages related to actual or alleged “wrongful acts.” Limits for this coverage are up to $1 million per occurrence and $3 million total.

Hastings Mutual’s church program coverage applies to the worship center and the people who work there. If you’re someone who attends church every week, this coverage isn’t for you, at least not directly. Talk to your pastor or other leader and introduce him or her to your local independent insurance agent.

A place of worship provides much more than something to do on the weekend. For some people, it’s their business. For many, it’s a home away from home, a place to meet with friends and something that is simply an essential part of their lives. Shouldn’t your “second home” have the same protection as your own house?

What value does your worship center have in your life?

The Mutual Understanding blog and Hastings Mutual videos are made available for educational purposes only. The information referred to is not an official company statement, corporate policy, or offer of coverage. Refer to your insurance policy for specific coverage. There is no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any information found by following any link on this site. Please contact your local independent insurance agent with further questions and for more details on any insurance policy-related information you read here.

© 2021 Hastings Mutual Insurance Company. All rights reserved.