CHURCH INSURANCE · MECKLENBURG, BRUNSWICK, HALIFAX, WARREN AND BEYOND
Insurance for churches, in the county and across the line.
A church is a building, a congregation, a fleet and a calendar of events, and most policies only see the first one.
THE FIRST THING TO KNOW
The building is the easy part.
Insuring the sanctuary is straightforward, as long as the limit reflects what it would cost to rebuild a steeple, replace stained glass and put an organ back. The harder parts are the people: the volunteers who drive the van, the youth trip, the counselling in the pastor's office, the fellowship hall rented for a reception, the deacon board making decisions on behalf of the congregation.
A church package is written for all of it. Most of the coverages on this page cost a small amount each and are missing from a policy that was bought as a building policy twenty years ago and renewed since.
WHAT IT COVERS
Four parts of a church package.
The building and its contents
Sanctuary, fellowship hall, parsonage, cemetery structures. Replacement cost for the things that are not off the shelf: stained glass, pews, the organ, the sound system.
Liability
Members, visitors and the public, on the property and at church events off it. The part that covers the slip on the front steps and the lawsuit that follows.
Vans, buses and volunteers' cars
The church van needs commercial auto. Volunteers driving their own cars for the church need hired and non-owned auto on the church policy.
Events and outreach
Vacation Bible school, the fall festival, the mission trip, the community dinner. Liability that follows the congregation wherever it goes.
Volunteers are not employees, so workers' compensation may not cover them. Some policies do. Volunteer accident coverage does, and it is inexpensive.
THE PARTS MOST OFTEN MISSING
Six coverages a building policy from twenty years ago may not have.
Directors and officers
Protects the pastor, the deacons, the trustees and the board from claims over decisions made for the church: a firing, a contract, a dispute with a member.
Sexual misconduct liability
Covers claims of abuse or misconduct by clergy, staff or volunteers. Carriers require screening and supervision practices for children's and youth work. It is a hard subject and a necessary coverage.
Counselling liability
Pastoral counselling is a professional service. Claims arising from it fall outside general liability unless this is added.
The cemetery
Many country churches own one. It carries liability for visitors and for the grounds work, and a set of records worth protecting.
The hall you rent out
Receptions, reunions and community groups in the fellowship hall bring the public in under the church's policy. Ask about a facility use agreement and a certificate from larger events.
Funds and fraud
Offerings, wire fraud on the building fund, a treasurer with the only signature. Crime coverage and, increasingly, cyber.
WHO WE WRITE IT FOR
Who we write it for
● Country churches with a cemetery and a fellowship hall
● Churches with a van ministry or a bus
● Churches with a daycare, a preschool or a school
● Churches with a parsonage
● Camps, retreat grounds and church owned land
● New congregations meeting in rented space
About the van
A fifteen passenger van is the single largest liability most churches own. The policy should name it, the drivers should be listed with their driving records checked, and the church should know whether the volunteer driving members home in his own car is covered by the church's policy or only his. Usually the answer is only his, unless hired and non-owned auto is on the church policy.
THE STATE LINE
Employees, volunteers and the state line
Virginia
A church is an employer like any other for workers' compensation: more than two employees, part time counted, and the requirement applies. The pastor, the secretary and a part time custodian is three. Volunteers are not employees and are not covered by it.
North Carolina
Three or more employees brings the requirement. Officers of some non-profits may be exempt from coverage while still counting toward the three. Volunteers again fall outside it, which is what volunteer accident coverage is for.
Workers' compensation rules for non-profits have exceptions and change. Confirm with the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission or the North Carolina Industrial Commission.
QUESTIONS WE GET
Before you call
We have a part time secretary and a pastor. Do we need workers' compensation?
In Virginia, more than two employees triggers it and part timers count, so a third hire does. In North Carolina it is three. Either way, a policy for a church with two employees is inexpensive and settles the question.
Are the youth on a mission trip covered?
The church's liability follows the trip. The youth themselves are covered for injury only if the policy carries accident medical coverage for participants, which is a small add-on worth having before the bus leaves.
Someone wants to rent the fellowship hall for a reception. What do we need?
A facility use agreement, and for larger events a certificate of insurance from the renter naming the church. Ask us for the agreement template. Alcohol at the event is its own question.
Does the church need coverage for counselling?
If the pastor counsels members, yes. It is a professional service and general liability excludes it. The coverage is inexpensive and the claims are not.
Can we add the new van through the form?
Call the office. Adding a vehicle is a change in coverage, and coverage is not bound through the form or by email until somebody here has confirmed it. The van is not covered because you sent the message.
Changing your coverage
For adding or deleting coverage, please call the office during business hours. Coverage is not bound through sending a request by email or using the contact form without explicit confirmation from an authorized agent or carrier.