Important for all churches, general liability insurance helps to pay for injuries or damage that occurs on your property. From injuries due to a congregant slipping to property damage or loss due to theft, general liability coverage ensures you can adequately cover the unexpected.

Many churches or religious organizations have a van, bus, or other vehicles that are used to transport congregants to and from events. If the vehicle is owned by the church, they fall under the category of a commercial vehicle. It is required by law that you take out a commercial auto insurance policy to provide liability and physical damage coverage for anyone who is driving the vehicle.

There may be additional types of coverage that you need depending on your church’s involvement, location, and unique situation. Some other types of coverage for churches to consider include the following:

• Workers’ compensation insurance to pay for medical expenses for employees who are injured while on church property.
• Flood insurance if the church building is located in an area prone to flooding.
• Personal property insurance to insure expensive equipment such as instruments, sound equipment, and other property within the church.
• Event insurance to cover wedding ceremonies, community service events, and other large gatherings.

Additionally, your church may even choose to invest in an umbrella policy that provides an added layer of protection should a lawsuit exceed the limits of your other policies. The amount of church insurance coverage your church needs will depend greatly on the size of your church as well as how often your church building is used for activities other than worship.