The church plays a vital role in our communities. From reaching out to youth and teens, holding special programs, counselling couples, single as well as addicts, the church is indeed a handful to the community. As a result, it is likely to face a lawsuit due to personal injury to a person or property. That explains why you need insurance to guard against situations. Aside from that, the church public liability insurance also provides coverage for any damage or injury to the public. This article is a guide on church insurance, its types and coverages in the UK.
Why Get A Church Insurance?
The church plays a vital role in our communities. From reaching out to youth and teens, holding special programs, counselling couples, single as well as addicts, the church is indeed a handful to the community. As a result, it is likely to face a lawsuit due to personal injury. Church insurance is a type of coverage tailored to the specific needs of churches as an organisation in the Uk. However, there is no perfect cover, you only need to identify your church need and narrow your policy to meet that need.
What kind Of Insurance Does A Church Need
Whether you intend to purchase a policy yourself or go through a broker, make sure your place of worship insurance policy includes some of the following;
#1. Church Public Liability Insurance
This covers the church in the event that a member sustains an injury to their body or damage to their property.
#2. Employers’ Liabilty Insurance
Once a place of worship employs staff, then there is a need to add the employers’ insurance. This covers the employees in the event of injury or damages to their property.
#3. Content Insurance
The content insurance covers all items within the building. However, this policy coverages protect items within the church not outside.
What does the Content insurance cover?
Theft, Storm, fire, flood, damage, vandalism, and malicious damages.
#4. Trustees Indemnity Cover
The church’s trustees are in charge of ensuring that it is operated properly and that any philanthropic goals are met. However, there is a thin line that is capable of landing someone in serious trouble here. Anyone who occupies such a position is liable to a claim. That is brought against you, you could be held personally accountable if a lawsuit arises. Trustees’ Indemnity insurance provides an armour of protection for church trustees, ensuring that if you are accused of doing wrongful conduct, you will be protected financially. Investigating, defending, and compensating a claim are all part of this process.
#5. Church Loss of Money or Income Insurance
Most often, there is reserved cash within the church either held by the church treasurer or kept in a safe place. This money can be stolen or lost and therefore, it is crucial you provide a policy cover for such occurrence.
#6. All Risk Insurance
While the content insurance protects against theft, burglary and any other thing that may happen to items within the building, all risk insurance cover church items outside the church. Say for an instant, the church is organizing an outreach at the community hall and have to move some of its equipment from the church premise to the venue. All risk insurance covers any indemnity to the equipment.
#7. Church Building Insurance
Buying the building insurance means your church and connected buildings, such as halls and outbuildings, will be protected against hazards, as well as damage from floods, fires, and storms.
#8. BOP (Business Owners Policy)
This provides liability insurance as well as protection for your church’s facility and property.
#9. Auto Mobile
The automobile insurance for churches covers the church vehicles
Steps To Getting Church Insurance Identify need
Identify Your Church Insurance Needs
There are many insurance covers for churches, however, you do not need all of this. Your local church may require just the general liability insurance which covers the public against bodily injury and damages to property in the UK. For bigger churches that embark on missions and other events, something beyond that. This means you will have to add other coverage to your insurance policy. The rule here is simple, do your own research, assess your church needs and proceed to the next steps.
Get Quotes
There are various insurance company that provides policy for churches, get quotes from as many as you can- specifically the best in the industry.
Compare Quotes And Offers
After collecting quotes, compare prices as well as the coverage that each insurance firm will provide. Do not focus on the cost alone, look at the add on- the little extra benefits that each of them has over the other.
Buy A Policy
After identifying the one that best suits your local church need, you can go ahead and agree on the premium, purchase and devise means of payment.
Plan For Review
Decide when to review your policy and agree upon a set time with your providers.
Cost Of Getting A Church Insurance
The cost of church insurance varies depending on the policy, region, and the type of coverage you require. That is, it is determined by the features and requirements of your organisation. Small churches and other religious groups should expect to pay between $37 and $59 per month for a conventional $1,000,000/$2,000,000 general liability insurance coverage.
Factors that Influence The Cost of Church Insurance
- Congregtaional Member
- Location
- Building size
- Vehicles
- Services Offered
- Number of employees
- Salary and so on
Church Liability Insurance
When it comes to insuring a place of worship, you do not purchase a policy plan for the purpose of dealing with liability but also against damages such as theft. For instance, items in the vestry or even the metals in the church can be stolen. You need coverages to either replace or repair them. Furthermore, it also provides coverage for special events such as outreach, fundraising, welfare support as well as the building.
What Does Church Insurance Cover?
The following are some of the coverages that a place of worship insurance includes;
- It provides coverage for church public liability insurance in the UK
- It offer protection for metal theft
- Liability cost on damaged buildings and property.
- Theft and money loss by church officials
- Liability to the general public
- Indemnity for trustees
- Employers’ responsibilities
- Expenses for legal representation
- Church event cancellation
- Unintentional injury and so on.
Church Public Liability Insurance
The church is supposed to meet the needs of the people within its community not to cause harm, but unfortunately, sometimes, it incurs liability as a result of the harm done to the public. This is because churches are open to the public and frequently hold a variety of community events, therefore it needs to insure themselves against liability to body injury or damages to the public property. Whether it results from negligence or omission makes no difference. However, the church insurance policy will provide protection for the costs of investigation, defence, and any compensation expenses if you have public liability insurance.
What Does The Church Pulic Liability Insurance Cover?
Typical public liability insurance for a church include;
- Personal injury
- Damage to property
- Investigation costs
- Compensation fees
- Legal Fee
Church Insurance Brokers
The Church Insurance brokers can save you time and money, though, they may charge a fee for their services. Most often, you may eventually end up spending less even with the fee than choosing a policy yourself. Frankly speaking, insurance brokers are professionals who can often get you better coverage at a lower price. They can also assist you with any claims that you may have.
Even though everyone loves to do certain things themselves for the satisfaction that comes with it. There are things that demand the help of professionals and brokers are one of such deals.
Why Do You Need Brokers For Church Insurance?
Sometimes, narrowing down your insurance need may seem hazy and somewhat difficult. Your church may have a hall, be involved in mission and other sets of ministry. You may also have other complex situations that need to be addressed properly. In such a situation, it is best you go through insurance brokers as they have the expertise to fully analyze your needs, therefore, providing you with the very best.
Top Best Church Insurance Brokers In The UK
The following are some of the best places of worship insurance providers in the Uk;
- Trinitas Church Insurance
- State Farm
- Ecclesiastical Insurance
- Edwards Church insurance
- Congretaonal Insurance
- Guideone insurance
- UK Church Insurance
- Farmers Church insurance
- Hummel grroup
- Church Mutual Insurance
- Greenword Moreland Insurance and so on.
Every one of the above has an advantage over the other, that is why we advise you to get quotes from many, compare their offers as well as cost and then select the one that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
The place of worship is open to the general public and must therefore be insured against possible risk and damages. From the church building to its equipment, its funds as well as its workers. These are necessary covers that must be in place to avoid unnecessary liabilities. Even though there is no law that insists the church must get be insured. However, the fact it employs staff and involves the public binds it as other organisations and it must therefore get one to avoid the disaster of not having any in the UK.
FAQs ON Church Insurance
Do ministers need liability insurance?
A professional liability insurance policy also referred to as an “indemnity” policy, is not mandatory for clergy. However, without it, you put yourself at the mercy of the whims, prejudices and perceived offences of others
What does pastoral professional liability cover?
Pastoral Professional Liability Insurance — this type of professional liability insurance covers both individual pastors and religious leaders and the religious organization. A major exposure covered by pastoral professional liability insurance is counselling by ministers or similar individuals.
What type of insurance does a church need?
Insurance Coverage in Case of Legal Action
In the event members of the church or other individuals sue, general liability insurance is necessary. This type of coverage has two parts. It includes coverage for someone claiming injury and coverage for someone claiming property damage
