Property insurance is necessary to protect your personal belongings, but liability insurance is a requirement to keep your church safe from other peoples’ actions. It’s not uncommon for churches to be the subject of lawsuits due to improper behavior or untrue accusations or allegations. Coverage helps keep your church safe against lawsuits. There are many different types of coverages you can choose from, which you should discuss when getting a church insurance quote. They include:
- General liability – If your church becomes legally responsible for either property damage or an injury to their body, general liability protection covers damages and costs for litigation that stem from the claim. You should have at least $1 million in coverage to ensure your congregation is protected.
- Sexual misconduct – defending a sexual misconduct allegation can completely deplete your finances, especially when it comes to litigation costs and the expense of a judgement against your congregation. Aim to carry at least $250,000 for sexual misconduct, and purchase a policy with higher limits if at all possible for maximum protection.
- Employment practices – this coverage protects you from claims due to employment issues. The issues can include wrongful termination, discrimination due to age or gender, and other allegations in the category.
- Foreign travel insurance – If members of your church frequently travel out of the country for mission trips or other responsibilities, you might need additional protection for members of your congregation.
- Professional liability – Some people make accusations against counselors and pastors claiming that they’ve suffered emotional or physical harm. Ideally, get a policy with a limit that matches your general liability.
- Medical payments – adding medical payments to your insurance is an excellent idea for churches. It offers a set payment to an individual who becomes injured while on church property as a gesture of goodwill. The limit is usually capped at $5,000, but eliminates the need to go through court and deal with a lengthy litigation process.
It’s always essential to have the appropriate levels of coverage to protect your church from claims that your general liability insurance doesn’t cover. All coverage is not the same, and a large part of purchasing additional insurance coverage requires analyzing your needs and knowing which ones you need to have and which ones aren’t absolutely essential.
Don’t let your church get hit by a claim that cripples your finances. Be active and protect your congregation.