Church Insurance Ohio
Ohio consists of numerous historically prominent sacred landmarks that reflect the religious nature and the commitment of its people. Religion has always been a panacea to the people of Ohio, which is seen in their endless dedication to serving the people of their community.
It was during the 1800s when New Englanders became the first settlers in Ohio to bring Christianity to the state and establish the early institutional framework of the church. The strength and resilience of these communities to stay true to their religion are highly appreciated to this day, and you will see many people carry the spirit of their ancestors as they serve in the house of God, providing a safe space for those in need.
73% of the total population of Ohio is a devout Christian, and this is likely why you’re bound to come across numerous Romanesque and Gothic Revival churches lining the cobbled streets of the state.
Today, churches in Ohio serve as not only a place where people gather to worship but also a haven for marginalized communities, the destitute, the disabled, and the homeless. Church leaders host several supportive self-help programs for individuals battling substance abuse and provide counseling to those who require mental and emotional support.
Many churches in Ohio also rent out their facilities for grand-scale events, organize regular services, fund local and foreign missionary trips, and support evangelical missions.
Due to a large number of activities and events taking place every single day, it is not uncommon for religious organizations to be vulnerable to several kinds of liabilities and litigations that can take place due to accidents and adverse weather conditions.
Hence, it is the responsibility of church leaders to take every precautionary step necessary to ensure the protection of their congregation and the church community. Instead of a basic insurance plan, churches require specialized church property insurance to minimize all kinds of risks and have tailored coverage policies with a comprehensive risk management plan. This plan should address every kind of potential liability and risk that the church can get exposed to.
Investing in a reliable insurance plan isn’t just a way to ease your mind when a disastrous event takes place, but it also allows the church to properly use its resources and prevent bankruptcy.
Our independent church insurance agents have extensive experience in providing ministries with the most comprehensive church insurance policies that are best suited to their operation. At Integrity Now Insurance Brokers, we make sure to go above and beyond for our clients and equip them with specialized insurance plans that will help them stay protected in the case of a calamity or a hefty lawsuit.
We partner with numerous A-rated church insurance agencies in Ohio, which we carefully selected after studying their past stellar records and well-rounded insurance policies. Reach out to us at any time and book a free consultation to compare quotes and get tailored insurance policies at competitive rates.
Reasons Why Your Ministry in Ohio Requires Specialized Insurance
Church leaders in Ohio are responsible for more than just providing people with spiritual guidance. They must also ensure that they’re doing the necessary financial groundwork required for their ministry to prosper.
This involves ensuring that their congregation is shielded from any litigations and liabilities, the donations that the church receives are used properly, and having optimized insurance policies that guard the church’s operation against any possible pitfalls.
Here are some reasons your ministry in Ohio requires insurance.
Church Property Insurance
Churches have vast facilities since they receive a lot of charitable donations from several organizations. This is why churches need to invest in adequate church property insurance to protect their assets from any hazards and damages.
Ohio averages about 19 tornadoes every year, frequent heavy floods, hail, destructive winds, and storms that lead to irreparable structural damage. These adverse weather conditions also expose several toxic materials like asbestos, oxides, and dioxides.
Wildfires are also a common occurrence in Ohio, where the Ohio River Valley Fires burnt down 400,000 acres of land and caused significant property damage. Other reasons why fires occur commonly on church grounds can be due to scorching heat, arid weather conditions, electrical short circuits, and arson.
This is why every church should be equipped with reliable church property insurance to prevent any excessive repair and rebuilding costs.
With a comprehensive insurance plan, your church will get ample coverage for any damages your building sustains in the event of an unforeseen natural disaster. All church-owned property like stained glass windows, altars, pews, and sound equipment will be reimbursed, and you will never have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses to keep your operation running.
Safeguarding Ministry Leaders
Church board members make several important financial and administrative decisions on behalf of the church every day.
Ministry leaders can be accused of any damages that take place due to their decisions and actions and are vulnerable to hefty lawsuits that can be filed if they are suspected of breaking their fiduciary obligations to the church.
But the Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance policy will safeguard church board members and ministry leaders from any liabilities and provide them with adequate coverage for attorney’s fees and defending themselves in court.
Church Liability Insurance
Since churches organize several events and activities daily, church spaces can get crowded, and people can have accidents and injure themselves.
It’s essential to make sure that your church grounds are well-maintained and that there isn’t any broken furniture, railings, pews, or slippery surfaces where people can fall and sustain bodily injuries.
Anyone that injures themselves on church grounds has the right to file a lawsuit against the church, and a single personal injury lawsuit can cost more than $75,000.
This is why every church must ensure they purchase a church liability policy to protect their operation from any excessive legal fees, defamation, and reputational harm.
Ensuring Safety for Your Church Community
When church leaders take the responsibility to provide emotional and spiritual guidance to church members, it’s crucial they also make sure to take extra steps that enhance their community’s safety.
Events like bible studies, bake sales, youth outreach programs, support groups, and brand practices take place daily at the church, where both volunteers and supportive church members gather to participate.
As a church leader, you need to purchase adequate accident insurance to protect your church community. This way, they can have coverage for any medical treatment bills if they get harmed during a church-related activity.
Different Church Coverage Plans Available for Ministries in Ohio
When hundreds of people are attending church every day, church leaders must make sure they’re doing everything they can to protect their congregation and shield them from any vulnerabilities.
Since churches are often operating on a tight budget, a single cataclysmic event can become a major setback that can quickly lead to deep financial trouble and gradually bankruptcy. This can deprive the people of Ohio of the kind of divine healing they rely on the church for.
To make sure that your reverential operation keeps running without any hurdles, consider the following type of church insurance policies available for ministries in Ohio.
General Liability Insurance
The general liability insurance plan provides broad coverage and takes every aspect of the church’s operation into account. The general liability insurance will protect your ministry from two main liability claims: claims of bodily injury from customers and employees and property damage.
With this coverage policy, you will also be protecting your church from any reputational harm and defamation cases that are prevalent when it comes to non-profits running on a big level.
Any person that injures themselves on church premises can sue the church, and the average cost of a slip and fall claim can go up to $20,000. This is why you must prioritize investing in a sturdy insurance plan sourced from a reliable insurance company.
Abuse and Molestation Insurance Coverage
This coverage policy will protect your church members and pastors from alleged and actual claims of sexual misconduct. Cases of abuse and molestation can cost the church its reputation, and the entire community will feel impacted by the unfortunate situation.
This is why you need to invest in this insurance policy to help safeguard your pastor’s and employee’s rights and get ample coverage for any charges against them.
Our experienced church insurance brokers also recommend performing a thorough background check on all of your employees and volunteers.
Employee Theft Insurance
Nearly every business is vulnerable to employee dishonesty and theft, which can lead to extra financial burdens that the church cannot afford. This is why churches need to protect their operation from any financial losses and invest in good employee theft insurance that will provide coverage for any cases of theft, embezzlement, and fraud.
Equipment Breakdown Insurance
Fires, floods, and storms can cause a lot of damage to church-owned equipment and the repair and replacement costs are usually astronomical.
The church also relies on its computer systems to connect with its community through online sermons. Any issues with the computer systems, heating and cooling systems, and sound equipment can cost a lot of money and deprive the church community of the comfort that they deserve.
Having an equipment breakdown insurance plan will help pay for any repair and replacement costs, and you will never have to worry about facing any liabilities emerging from these systems again.
Worker’s Compensation Insurance
Every church leader is legally obligated to purchase the worker’s compensation insurance regardless of the number of employees they have. This coverage plan will shield your employees from any potential liabilities and cover any medical costs, lost wages, ongoing care bills, and give them death benefits.
Director’s Officer’s and Trustee’s Liability Coverage
The church board members and directors are often involved in various high-level church operations. There are several risks surrounding the financial and administrative decisions, and church board members have a great responsibility to follow the proper law and protocol when involved in monetary matters.
This is why every church requires a director’s and officer’s liability coverage policy to protect their board members from potential litigations and liability claims.
Employment Practice Liability Insurance (EPLI)
The EPLI provides coverage when an employee accuses the church of any incident that happens during church services. Some of these claims include wrongful termination, slander, retaliation, harassment, age and gender discrimination, negligence, and failure to promote.
Pastoral Counseling Insurance Coverage
This comprehensive coverage plan covers any claims that could arise through pastoral counseling or guidance. Pastors and spiritual leaders can be accused of harming their clients on a physical, emotional, or mental level. This is when this coverage plan will kick in and pay for any lawsuits and legal charges.
Fire Insurance
According to regional and national standards, the chances of fires in Ohio are high. There are many reasons for fires causing significant damage in a church, one of them being the liberal use of candles during religious ceremonies and masses.
This is why purchasing a fire insurance policy will maximize protection for your church and provide coverage for any fire-related damages.
Umbrella Insurance
In today’s litigious world, your church can be held liable at any time for someone else’s negligence. This is why experienced church insurance agents recommend adding an extra layer of protection to your base coverage policy that will give you additional coverage.
The umbrella coverage policy is a must-have layer of protection for churches that require excessive liability coverage. This coverage policy will protect your organization if any church-owned or rental vehicle sustains damages in a collision, if any board member or a pastor is facing an exorbitant lawsuit, or if anyone injures themselves on church grounds.
This insurance policy will give you adequate coverage when your base insurance plan reaches its limit in a hefty liability claim. This excess liability insurance is a good approach to cover any gaps in your base insurance plan and secure your ministry’s resources.
Why Can You Rely on Church Insurance Agents at Integrity Now Insurance Brokers?
The owner of Integrity Now Insurance Brokers isn’t just a highly-qualified insurance agent but has also been serving his time in the youth ministry as a Young Pastor for the past 19 years. This is why we prioritize every church’s safety and protection and streamline tailored insurance policies to safeguard your operation.
Our team of certified church insurance agents offers unprecedented customized care for all of our clients, and we will help you simplify the complex process of devising a robust insurance plan that protects your operation from a 360-degree viewpoint.
Let’s schedule a call to discuss the church insurance claim process where one of our representatives will get in touch with you and provide you will all the details that you require.
You can also check out our resources on our website to understand the complex industry jargon, your rights, statutory and compliance requirements, and more nifty tips and tricks to help you form an informed decision.