If You Build It, Risks Will Come

Any renovation, construction, or addition project at your church introduces new liability risks. Before engaging in any project, determine whether your ministry, a contractor, or some other party is taking responsibility for these risks, secure documented evidence of this arrangement, and make certain that all insurance policies involved provide adequate coverage.

Contractors

If your ministry hires a contractor, make sure he provides his own insurance coverage. Never use uninsured subcontractors. Ask your contractor to provide a certificate of insurance indicating that he has workers’ compensation, general liability, and automobile insurance. This document should include policy numbers, limits, and terms.

Either you or your contractor must provide workers’ compensation. If your subcontractor does not carry workers’ compensation, then you, as the project owner, can be held responsible for work-related injuries to your contractor’s employees.

Ask your contractor to name your organization as an additional insured on his company’s liability certificate of insurance. Require liability limits of at least $1 million. If your contractor is providing builder’s risk coverage, ask him to indicate it on the property certificate of insurance.  Secure a copy of the policy for your records.

Make sure the construction contract contains an indemnification provision, requiring the contractor to compensate your ministry for any injury, loss, or damage he or she causes your organization.

Volunteer labor

If your ministry wants to use volunteer or donated labor to complete your construction project, consider the risks. If one of your volunteers is injured, typical insurance policies provide no workers’ compensation and only a limited medical benefit, usually between $500 and $5,000. Inform your volunteers that if they are injured on the job, they will be responsible for their own medical expenses after primary medical coverage is exhausted.

You should fully explore this before deciding to undertake the work yourself. Often, after the workers’ compensation premium is factored in, many churches find it more cost-effective to enlist professionals rather than volunteers to complete the work.

Before breaking ground on your ministry’s next building project, carefully consider the insurance and liability ramifications.

September 7, 2023
Increasing Donor Trust
Increasing Donor Trust

The ability to inspire others to give is a blessing. Because fundraising can be both exciting and challenging, there are some important details to consider that can help your donors, and organization, have a smooth and successful experience.

Tags: insurance, ministry, donor
July 31, 2023
What to Know About Loaning Your Ministry Vehicle
What to Know About Loaning Your Ministry Vehicle

Has your church or school ever been asked to loan or rent one of your vans or buses to another ministry? Rather than running the risk of loaning or renting your own vehicle, you could consider aiding them financially in renting or chartering a vehicle from a rental agency.

Tags: coverage, insurance, ministry, car insurance, renting, travel, safety
March 14, 2023
Responding to Mission Issues
Responding to Mission Issues

Having insurance coverage specifically designed for long-term international missions helps protect your people and organization from the financial impact caused by injuries, lawsuits, property damage, and more.

Tags: coverage, insurance, ministry, volunteers, mission travel, risk, protection, kidnapping
January 30, 2023
Brotherhood Mutual Foundation Kingdom Advancing Grant
Brotherhood Mutual Foundation Kingdom Advancing Grant
Tags: coverage
January 6, 2023
Better Achieve Your Mission in 2023
Better Achieve Your Mission in 2023

It’s a new year! Having the right policies in place can help you better achieve your mission in 2023.

Tags: coverage, protect, directors and officers, liability, damages
November 10, 2022
Evaluate Your Ministry's Fire Safety Plan
Evaluate Your Ministry's Fire Safety Plan

With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s wise for ministries to evaluate their fire safety plan. Whether your ministry is hosting a holiday party, prepping treats for charity, or running a community kitchen, make sure you’re well-prepared with these tips.

Tags: ministry, protection, insurance, volunteer safety, fire safety, emergency, property
September 22, 2022
School is Back in Session
School is Back in Session

As school is back in session, it’s important to make sure your school is equipped with the correct safety procedures. Thinking about your school’s physical security as a series of layers can help you find gaps in your plan. Transportation and volunteers are just two important aspects of your school safety plan to think about.

Tags: ministry, protection, insurance, liability, child protection, volunteer safety
May 19, 2022
Shepherding Ministries in a Time of Change
Shepherding Ministries in a Time of Change

Anyone who turns on the news, flips through a magazine, or browses the web can see that American society and culture are experiencing rapid transitions. Some ministries have valid concerns that issues surrounding societal shifts may expose them to negative publicity, governmental scrutiny, or litigation.

The questions become: when and how can ministries operate within their deeply held religious beliefs when they may conflict with others’ rights?

Tags: ministry, protection, religious freedom, insurance, liability
May 19, 2022
Five Common Tricks of Cyber Scammers
Five Common Tricks of Cyber Scammers

Cyber security is increasingly crucial in our technologically advanced world. Scammers use many schemes when attempting to steal your data, but you can outsmart them by understanding their methods.

Tags: ministry, cyber security, technology, data, protection
March 16, 2021
Prepare for Severe Spring Storms Now
Prepare for Severe Spring Storms Now

When severe storms strike, they can produce high winds and tornadoes. Damaging winds can wreak havoc on your ministry’s property and to buildings. A high wind event can crash debris through your windows, strip your siding, down trees on your parking lot, peel shingles off your roof, and fling back the flashing.

Tags: weather emergency, lightning, storms, safety, protect
February 25, 2021
Catalytic Converter Theft on the Rise: Protect Ministry Vehicles
Catalytic Converter Theft on the Rise: Protect Ministry Vehicles

Thieves are taking advantage of soaring precious metal prices. Take steps to protect your ministry’s vehicles and property.

Tags: protect, theft, vehicle
February 5, 2021
Avoid Frozen Pipes as Temperatures Plummet
Avoid Frozen Pipes as Temperatures Plummet

As temperatures plummet, the risk of freezing pipes soars. Frozen pipes can cause costly messes that could also put your ministry on hold while you clean up.

Tags: frozen, building, pipes, prevent damage
November 23, 2020
COVID-19 and the Christmas Season
COVID-19 and the Christmas Season

Preparing for this Christmas season may require additional creativity, due to the uncertainty of what COVID-19 may bring in our local community.

Tags: COVID-19, health, health safety, protect, coronavirus, Christmas, risk management
October 28, 2020
Guidance for Ministries About Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy
Guidance for Ministries About Boy Scouts' Bankruptcy

A mid-November deadline in the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) bankruptcy proceedings may have you wondering what the organization’s bankruptcy filing means for your ministry if you ever hosted or chartered Boy Scout Troops.

Tags: coverage, protect, liability, damages, youth
October 1, 2020
Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness
Applying for PPP Loan Forgiveness

Organizations that obtained Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding through the CARES Act can have their loans forgiven, turning them into grants. To qualify, each borrower must file a forgiveness application with its PPP lender, proving that it followed the rules. If your church, school, college, or camp meets all the criteria, 100% of its loan can be forgiven.

March 31, 2020
CARES Act: Churches Need to Apply Now
UPDATE CARES Act: Churches Need to Apply Now

Learn about the CARES Act and two loans for which ministries may be eligible, since Congress authorized additional funding April 23. 

March 6, 2020
Coronavirus and Your Ministry: Tips for Prevention
Coronavirus and Your Ministry: Tips for Prevention

As concern over the dangers associated with the spread of a new coronavirus, COVID-19, spreads, our agency and Brotherhood Mutual want to keep you informed and provide best practices for managing the spread of this and similar illnesses at your ministry.

January 29, 2020
Hosting a Game Day Bash? Brush Up on Copyright Basics
Hosting a Game Day Bash? Brush Up on Copyright Basics

The first Sunday in February is a big day for sports fans. In fact, many Americans view Super Bowl Sunday as a national holiday. Friends and families will gather this year to watch the big game, enjoy delicious snacks, and of course, critique the commercials that go along with game day.

Are You Covered If You're Injured Overseas?
Are You Covered If You're Injured Overseas?

Recently, we learned about two major overseas incidents involving pastors on mission trips. The first incident involved a pastor being hit by a motorcycle while running. The second was a bus accident involving two pastors. The runner and one of the two bus passengers sustained extensive injuries.

Tags: missions, insurance
IRS Announces More Church Audits Regarding ACA Compliance
IRS Announces More Church Audits Regarding ACA Compliance

Last month, the IRS announced that its initiating hundreds of church exams to test compliance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While many provisions only apply to churches with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs), even smaller churches could potentially violate provisions applicable to health benefit plans with as few as 2 plan participants.

Tags: ACA, IRS