January 24, 2023
Written by Craig Cable, Regional Director, ACG Colorado
When you serve nearly 3000 ministries, you tend to get a lot of questions. While most seem to center around the ways we can help them, we do get questions that are seeking clarity about who we are and what we do. I have provided below four of our most common questions.
What’s the difference between American Church Group and Brotherhood Mutual?
This is probably one of the most common questions we get when we begin working with a new ministry. The American Church Group (ACG) is the local “agency” that represents the “carrier” Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company (BMIC). While some carriers have their own agents, BMIC prefers to work with select groups of insurance professionals around the country who have a deep understanding of the unique risks and exposures that ministries are likely to encounter.
Do you work with other carriers?
While most of the policies that our agency writes are with BMIC, we are an independent agency that can work with other insurance carriers to provide coverage based on a ministry’s specific needs.
(In fact, our agency also insures organizations in the non-profit sector with companies like Nationwide Human Services, USLI, Philadelphia, and Accident Fund).
(See #4 for more information on this)
What is the role of an agency vs the role of the carrier?
Our agency is responsible for becoming experts in the various insurance coverages that are available and then assisting ministries with the selection of coverages that are best suited for their needs. The carrier is responsible for servicing claims, determining insurance rates, and billing. While they don’t determine coverages that are needed for a specific client, they are the ones who actually come up with the policy language and innovative coverages we can choose from.
I know of a non-profit that might need help with their insurance. Do you work with other types of organizations?
Yes! Since we work with almost 3,000 ministries, we have a great handle on the unique exposures other non-profits might experience. Some examples of risk types include: Adult Day Services, Daycares, Domestic Violence Shelters, Food Banks, Hospice, Group Homes, Outpatient and Residential mental health programs, thrift stores, adoption agencies, among many others.
It is important to know that ACG and BMIC are here for you. From protecting you from property and liability exposures to safeguarding your mission travel and summer camp season, we desire to be your risk management partners in all facets of your ministry.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your agent or our incredible service team. We are here for you, and we have your back! You can reach them by phone at 877-794-2330 or by email at clientsupport@americanchurchgroup.com.
There are a lot of hats worn in any growing ministry – and we want to serve every one of them.
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.
The holidays present unique opportunities and challenges for churches that aren’t typical during other times of the year. A lot of the ministries that I work with are seeing steady increases in attendance and are praying for a significant jump in Christmas service participation this year.
In this article, Brad Brown from Plan A Wealth Management gives a wonderful insight into why ministries might consider choosing a 403(B)(9) retirement plan.
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.
If there is one thing I have learned over the last decade while working private security and as a sworn peace officer, the more critical the incident, the more likely change will come out of it. Much like a pendulum, an incident occurs, and everyone cries for change.
Updating the lighting in your worship center with LED can offer significant energy savings while improving overall lighting performance.
We are so excited to welcome the newest member of the American Church Group of Colorado team, Lyndsie Glowinski.
Churches are increasingly becoming targets for cyber criminals. The most common attack is by sending “phishing” emails where the perpetrator poses as someone familiar to the ministry staff (like a senior pastor, deacon, elder, or someone trustworthy) and requests some sort of response.
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?