Has this ever happened to you?...
You imagine a new program that will minister to the whole community — both members and non-members. And you've come up with a way to capture contact information for everyone who attends. So after the program, you'll really be able to reach out. The community will already know your church, and they’ll be more receptive to your visits.
You're excited about presenting the idea to your advisory council. And you're even more excited when they love the idea as much as you do. But then someone asks the question:
"What about the risk?"
Suddenly everyone wants to know. In fact, they have to know. So your idea gets tabled until you can get some answers.
But church insurance is complicated. Even if you could pull out the paperwork, you aren't sure you could understand it. Is there an answer? How do you know what your coverages are? You have to wait until you can talk with your church's property and casualty insurance agent.
If you know where to look, it might not be as complicated as you think. Your P&C insurance is actually a collection of policies. So you likely have policies on things like commercial property and workers' compensation. Each policy lists the specific coverages you have under that policy, and it's likely a lengthy document.
How do you find the information you really need? To make it easier, they're summarized on the front few pages. The summary is probably titled, "Supplementary Declarations Pages." But they're often called "Dec Pages" for short. You should have Dec Pages for each policy you own.
You may be able to get the information you need from your Dec Pages. If you still need help, your P&C agent is just a phone call away. With your Dec Pages in hand, the agent can explain what your coverage is today, as well as determine what you might need to cover any gaps.
These days, churches and ministries change at a dramatic rate to meet their communities' needs. You need an annual review of your insurance to make sure you don’t have gaps in your coverages so you can maintain optimum levels of protection for your church.
The GuideStone Property and Casualty Program® can help. As the only Southern Baptist agency that provides P&C protection for churches, our goal is to give SBC churches Performance + Values. We can help de-mystify and de-complicate the difficult information related to church insurance.
All you need to do is ask. Give us a call or visit our website to submit your request. Then email or fax a copy of all your Dec Pages to an agent at GuideStone's Property and Casualty Program. It's free, and there's no obligation.
Your Dec Pages don't contain any private information, so it's perfectly safe. And they give our relationship managers an overview of your coverages — so they can identify gaps and find ways to strengthen your church insurance policies.
When your church reaches out to the community, you need to know your risk is covered. And you need to feel confident you're getting the best protection for your money. That's where GuideStone can help.
For more information about a complimentary church insurance review, call 214-720-2868 or email us.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice. Readers should use this article as a tool, along with best judgment and any terms or conditions that apply, to determine appropriate policies and procedures for your church's risk management program.
Article 