Risk Management
Risk Management
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order directs all churches, synods, and presbyteries to obtain adequate property and liability insurance coverage to protect the facilities, programs, and officers, including members of session, staff, boards of trustees, and deacons and elected and appointed officers (G-12.0306, 11.0308 and 10.01020, respectively). While there are many risks that must be considered and a wide array of insurance types, securing insurance is not an impossible task. Working with agents and other resources, a board of trustees, session, or mid council can ensure it has adequate coverage in place.
In order to help churches, presbyteries, and synods with their search for insurance coverage, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Risk Management Services offers this website featuring three insurance companies.
Each of these companies provides insurance coverage to at least 10% of PC(USA) churches and can meet the recommended minimum standards of insurance. Each insurance company has a long history of underwriting churches and is familiar with the unique exposures of churches. This website is designed only as a starting point in your search for insurance. Each church, presbytery, and synod must carefully consider its particular insurance needs and make the necessary contacts.
It is not the intent of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Risk Management Services to limit your search for insurance to only the three listed insurance companies. Many good insurance companies and programs exist throughout the insurance industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Kristine Baker
800-728-7228, ext. 5549
Kristine.Baker@pcusa.org
Or write to:
100 Witherspoon St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Resources
The 1999 survey of presbyteries reflected various amounts of insurance coverage purchased by presbyteries and revealed a significant number of presbyteries do not have minimum standards of coverage for their member churches.
After reviewing the information gathered in the 1999 survey, a Joint Insurance Committee established recommended minimum standards of property and liability insurance. These recommended minimum standards should be used as a general guideline only. As always, an insurance professional must be used to evaluate the insurance needs of each church and middle governing body.
This is a general comparison among the three insurance companies that provide coverage to at least 10% of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches. For additional information regarding the insurance companies or programs, please contact the individual representatives at the bottom of the page.
- What is the Company’s AM Best Rating?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
A (Excellent) - GuideOne Insurance Company
A Excellent - Insurance Board
A (Excellent)
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- How many PC(USA)churches did the company insure in 2009?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
2,100 - GuideOne Insurance Company
2,574 churches and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) entities - Insurance Board
1,292 PC(USA) churches/ministries
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer coverage that fulfills the recommended minimum standards of property and liability insurance for churches, presbyteries and synods of the PC(USA)?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Yes. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Yes. - Insurance Board
Yes.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Is the company licensed in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.? If not, list jurisdictions where not licensed to do business.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Church Mutual is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Not licensed in Puerto Rico. - GuideOne Insurance Company
GuideOne is licensed to do business in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Not licensed in Puerto Rico. - Insurance Board
The Insurance Board does not require individual state licensing. It is offered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Does not provide coverage in Puerto Rico.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company use independent insurance agents or company exclusive agents to market its products?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Both managing general agents and company exclusive agents. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Both independent and company exclusive agents are used. - Insurance Board
Uses independent agents and internal agents.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer coverage to every church, presbytery, and synod?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Yes, subject to underwriting guidelines. - GuideOne Insurance Company
All Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) entities are eligible for the insurance program subject to underwriting approval. - Insurance Board
Offers coverage to every PC(USA) church, presbytery, and synod.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer master or group policies?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Church Mutual offers both master and group policies. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Yes, GuideOne offers a group affiliated policy. - Insurance Board
Yes; all churches fall under a master policy.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does an outside adjuster or company adjuster process claims?
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Both, depending on the severity of the claim. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Most claims are handled by company adjusters. Outside adjusters are sometimes assigned to claims occurring in remote areas, but even these claims are audited by company adjusters. - Insurance Board
Uses outside adjusters to process claims and internal staff to monitor claim handling.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer loss control or risk management services? If yes, please list services offered and any additional charges for the services.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Loss control and risk management services are offered at no additional charge. Visit the Church Mutual Insurance Company website for complete offering of risk management materials. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Yes. The GuideOne Center for Risk Management provides free on-site inspections when requested by a policyholder or an underwriter. The center also produces manuals, checklist, brochures, and newsletters. Some are free and some are offered at reduced pricing to GuideOne policy holders. Arrangements have been made with other companies to provide needed church products and services such as background screening, human resource assistance, etc., at substantial savings. - Insurance Board
Provides an array of loss control and risk management services and resources, mostly at no cost. Visit their website for more information.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer coverage for church-owned or mid council-owned camps, nursing homes, day-care centers, schools, and conference centers? If yes, please list operations that can be covered.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Yes, all such religious-related facilities, with the exception of nursing homes, are insurable with Church Mutual for Property and Casualty coverages. In 37 states, the company also insures assisted living facilities. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Yes. All Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) entities are eligible for property and casualty coverage subject to underwriting approval. - Insurance Board
Yes, can cover church-owned camps, day-care centers, schools, conference centers, and independent-living senior housing facilities (provided that they do not include a medical malpractice component).
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer coverage for special programs and activities of churches and mid councils such as parish nurse, outreach services, soup kitchen, dinners, and fundraising events? If yes, please list activities that can be covered.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Yes, based on underwriting guidelines, all such programs and activities are insurable with Church Mutual for Property and Casualty coverages. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Yes. All activities and programs of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) are eligible for property and casualty coverage subject to underwriting approval. - Insurance Board
Yes, coverage is offered for special programs and activities that are customary for churches and mid councils, including liability as a result of a parish nurse, outreach services, soup kitchens, dinners, and fundraising events, etc.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
- Does the company offer earthquake and flood coverage? If yes, please list states where coverage is available.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Earthquake coverage is generally available in all states. Flood is placed through the National Flood Insurance Program. - GuideOne Insurance Company
Earthquake coverage is available in all states with the exception restrictions/limitations in Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Oregon, and Washington. Flood is not available in any state but is available through the National Flood Insurance Program. - Insurance Board
Yes. Earthquake coverage is available in all states. Flood coverage is also available in all states, but not in NFIP Zones A or V.
- Church Mutual Insurance Company
Contact Information
Church Mutual Insurance Company
Martin F. Heyne, Director, Group Sales
Church Mutual Insurance Co.
P.O. Box 357
Merrill, WI 54452
mheyne@churchmutual.com
715-536-5577
GuideOne Insurance Company
Jim Bonney
1111 Ashworth Road
W. Des Moines, IA 50265
jbonney@guidemail.com
515-267-5193
Fax: 515-267-5250
Please visit the GuideOne Center for Risk Management website for free information on a variety of church safety topics. Also, GuideOne Insurance customers receive free access to SafeChurch, the most comprehensive safety and risk management resource available to churches, featuring sample forms, fact sheets, resources, online training modules, safety assessments, project planning tools, discussion forum, low-cost background checks, and more.
The Insurance Board
Timothy Harris, CPCU, President and CEO
700 Prospect Avenue East, 5th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115
tharris@insuranceboard.org
216-736-3237
All churches should engage in emergency planning so that when an incident occurs, staff and church leaders follow safe procedures. Potential emergencies can arise from acts of God (hurricanes, snow storms), accidents (electrical fire, flooding), and acts of man (violence, infectious disease). While creating a plan can seem overwhelming, breaking down an emergency plan by potential emergency and discussing possible responses can make the task less onerous.
This information piece includes suggestions to create emergency plans for potential acts of violence on church property. While much of this information is for congregations, there is also information for mid councils who use churches and other locations for their meetings.
The Office of Legal & Risk Management Services does not represent congregations, presbyteries, or synods, but gets questions from them and interacts with them in various ways. Our office repeatedly sees some of the same issues arise annually and has compiled a list of issues that we thought worth sharing so that councils might add them to their annual “to do” list. This information is not legal advice; it is merely information and guidance. To get legal advice on any of the issues, please contact your local attorney.
Business continuity and succession planning may seem overwhelming. You have too little time to get done the business staring you in the face, much less giving thought on how to help your successor(s) do your job and run your office. But the process of planning for both also has value in helping you make sure you are operating your office in an efficient and effective manner and so that you can locate documents and records you need to do your job well. This checklist is intended to help you think about issues and offer simple solutions.
Congregations often offer their church property and buildings to be used by outside groups. Sometimes the relationship with that group is set out in a covenant and sometimes in a lease. There are legal, tax, zoning, and practical issues that should be considered when those relationship documents are created, updated, and amended. This document outlines a variety of issues to consider in drafting or reviewing a covenant or lease with a third-party property user or renter (“User”).
It is unfortunate that church leaders must think about how to prevent such violence or how to respond to it if it happens. But sessions should discuss church safety. There are many resources available for churches, including the following highlighted in this document.
Churches hire folks as bookkeepers and office managers who are responsible for managing finances and financial records. It is a best practice to conduct background checks on all new hires. Congregations and other councils should avoid hiring an employee to manage its finances who has a criminal record that includes finance-related crimes. However, a background check is only one step in what should be a number of steps in a process for churches to avoid fraud, embezzlement, and other financial crimes.
Be alert and aware of efforts by hackers to access your office computer systems. Hackers are attempting to gain access to systems around the world. Recent reports indicate that hackers have gained access to email accounts of government officials in systems we would all assume have an elevated level of security. This resource outlines some recommendations that Councils and sessions should share with their employees.
The FBI welcomes contact from houses of worship so that they can track incidents and hate crimes involving local houses of worship. While we try to make our churches a welcoming place for all people, sometimes bad actors take advantage of that welcome. Be alert and seek help if someone takes advantage of you to do harm. Review this resource for additional advice.
Medical emergencies can happen at any time, even during worship, session meetings, or annual congregational meetings. Sessions and pastoral leaders should consider putting together protocols to explain to ushers and leaders of the congregation how to react if a medical emergency presents itself. This guide walks you through the questions to consider as you develop your protocols.
The Stated Clerk has issued an information piece to inform PC(USA) members, churches, and councils that Presbyterian theology and polity do not support a religious exemption from Covid vaccines. Questions have arisen and may arise from churches and councils that are employers concerning how to respond if they mandate that their employees be vaccinated and get a request for a religious exemption from an employee. This information piece will share information based upon published guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”). It is recommended that congregations and councils consult with their local employment attorney at all steps in the process of reviewing and considering requests for accommodation from Covid vaccines.