August 8, 2023
By Craig Cable, Regional Director
American Church Group of Colorado
Let's face it, the world is constantly changing, and it's fascinating to witness the rapid evolution happening around us. Some futurists even predict that in the next two decades, the rate of change could be four times what it is today, and an astounding 16 times in 40 years. These are exciting times, and one of the sectors at the forefront of this transformation is the tech industry. Just consider that a staggering 90% of the world's data was generated within the past two years alone, which is truly mind-blowing!
Additionally, we can't ignore the unprecedented changes in our climate, which are affecting catastrophic weather events. Regardless of the debates surrounding the reasons for climate change, one thing is undeniable: change is happening. Over the past decade, the United States experienced a 67% increase in weather-related disasters costing over a billion dollars each. This translates into $880 billion in higher losses, compared to the previous ten years.
If you've been managing your ministry's insurance policy, you've probably noticed the challenges that come with changes in the cost of building materials, labor, and inflation. Insurance premiums have been on the rise, making it difficult for your ministry's budget to keep pace. We understand the strain this may put on your financial resources, and we're here to support and guide you through these challenging times.
Let's take a fresh look at some key aspects of your insurance strategy:
We understand that change can be daunting, but we're committed to being your risk management partner for the years to come. As some national insurance carriers pull out of states like Florida, Texas, and California, we're here to stay and support you every step of the way.
If you have any questions or concerns about your insurance coverage, we encourage you to reach out to your local agent or by emailing our dedicated Client Support Team at clientsupport@americanchurchgroup.com. Let's schedule a policy review and work together to ensure you have the right coverage and explore opportunities to reduce your premium when possible. We're in this together, and our goal is to make sure your ministry thrives amidst these dynamic changes.
Of all the liability claims that Brotherhood Mutual pays out each year, bodily injury and medical claims are at the top of the list. If your ministry hasn’t experienced a slip-and-fall incident resulting in an injury, it is just a matter of time until you do.
For most churches, and many nonprofits, the end of the school year signals the end of the ministry year. Many of those same churches and nonprofits have fiscal year ends as of June 30. This is a great time to review what is commonly called your organizational “governance” documents.
As I sit here in Kansas watching the news and reports of severe weather in my State and those States that surround me, I must remind myself, “there is not much I can do about this.” As a “fixer” this is difficult for me. The storms are going to roll in and at least we have the weather service who helps prepare us to “stay out of the way.” To answer my own question, we cannot avoid weather related claims.
Remember the days when hackers were imagined as shadowy figures living in their parent's basements, playing video games, and eating Doritos while crafting scam emails? Well, that image is now outdated. The world of cybercrime has evolved, and it's both sophisticated and terrifying. According to a recent annual cyber claims report from an insurance carrier called, Coalition, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), received more than 880,000 complaints of cybercrime in 2023 with reported losses of $12.5 billion.
If your church or nonprofit engages in short-term, summer mission trips, this time often signals the beginning of fundraising projects. Before you appeal for donations, it is important to review the rules of what the IRS calls “deputized fundraising” making sure you have the proper policies and procedures in place to maintain compliance. Failure to maintain compliance could result in the loss of your tax-exempt status.
With Valentine’s Day upon us and the official May-to-October wedding season not far behind, many couples are searching for the perfect wedding venue. Schools and performing arts organizations are looking for end-of-year performance and graduation venues. Your church or nonprofit facility might be the perfect match. Engaging the opportunity has stewardship and community outreach benefits. But opening your facilities to other activities and users involves risk. A Facility Use Policy sets the standard for your facility use. A Facility Use Agreement implements that standard. To be effective, leaders must answer three questions.
The focus of this article is to address some of the risks and liabilities associated with having an armed safety team. Click here to read PART ONE.
Over the last few years, our agency has continued to grow and expand across the Midwest & Rockies, now spanning six states: Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. Serving over 3,000 ministries and nonprofit organizations, we are deeply grateful for the opportunity to support you.
Do you ever feel like some words just get overused? I do. I live in a house with two teenagers and a sweet little boy who watches everything they do. The word "literally", gets used in 80% of sentences... It isn't even impactful anymore. It means nothing. Because if they didn't use that word, I would just expect that most of what they were saying was metaphoric in nature.
The new year signals the end of one payroll year and the beginning of another. As you process employee W2s and independent contractor 1099s, take time to evaluate a critical aspect of your ministry business risk management program: proper worker classification. While the percentage of the American workforce comprising “contingent workers” (independent contractors, contract employees, temporary employees, leased employees) was rapidly increasing before COVID, since COVID and the acceptance of the remote workplace, use of contingent workers has skyrocketed. You probably have several on your payroll.
Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to speak with several thousand church safety team members across the country. By far the most common question I get from this group is “Am I covered if something bad happens?” This is not a question that only pertains to armed safety team members. Truth is, anyone who serves in the protection of a ministry should be asking that question. The purpose of this article is to help ministries be better informed and more prepared in advance of an incident occurring.
We’re encouraging all customers to stay ahead of the freezing weather by signing up to receive Extreme Freezing Weather Text Alerts from Brotherhood Mutual. It’s new. The alert also links to actions you can take immediately to prevent or minimize damage to your buildings before forecasted weather arrives.
Join us for a comprehensive, one-day training for all! Tailored breakout sessions cover complex HR topics for administration and provides in-depth training, including a deeper review into de-escalation, for the security team. In the afternoon, unite in a deep dive on child safety with proprietary insights the anatomy of an abuse claim and protecting our youth.
One positive aspect of today’s challenged economy is the availability of underutilized or empty commercial space. Before your ministry takes the plunge into a lease agreement, we want to make sure you're well-informed and prepared to avoid some common pitfalls.
In this month's perspective on the insurance market, I wanted to talk about the massive upward trending we are seeing in cancellation of policies. Our agency has observed a remarkable surge in inquiries from churches not currently under our insurance coverage. These churches are facing non-renewal by their existing carriers, a trend that has expanded beyond the norm of non-renewals due to excessive losses. Instead, carriers are now opting not to renew based on the risk profile of the ministry, which encompasses factors like geography, insured value, and construction type.
There are so many insurance policies to consider when it comes to protecting your ministry, and keeping track of each one’s coverages can be a mind-numbing task. One that I often hear confusion about is the Excess Liability policy, more commonly referred to as an Umbrella. While these terms aren’t exactly interchangeable in the broader insurance world, they do have a lot of overlap. For purposes of understanding your Brotherhood Mutual policy, they are basically synonymous.
In recent times, our team has observed a growing demand for key man life insurance, particularly within the realm of church leadership. Pastors are the spiritual pillars of their congregations, providing guidance, support, and a sense of community. While their spiritual contributions are invaluable, it's equally important to consider their financial well-being and the stability of the church should an unforeseen tragedy occur.
The holiday season is fast approaching, and it's time to prepare for the festive cheer, delicious food, twinkling lights, and heartwarming gatherings. But amidst all the joy and celebration, let's take a moment to reflect on something essential - the well-being of our ministry leaders.
Water damage due to plumbing leaks and frozen pipes is a leading cause of property claims for ministries. The damage is often made worse because ministry buildings are typically not in use every day. Last year, nearly 1,000 Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company customers were impacted. To help protect ministries from experiencing costly water damage and disruptions, Brotherhood Mutual® recommends FloLogic, a comprehensive solution that can detect even the smallest water leak and automatically shut off the water to prevent flooding.