A local church in Abilene recently reached out to us with a fairly big challenge. Their beautiful building was old, and that made it hard to find a new church insurance policy. They had been non-renewed and their previous church insurance agent was not having luck finding new property coverage. Most insurance companies wouldn't even offer a quote. Others gave insurance premiums so high that the finance committee couldn’t believe it.
Through the years, their ministry had grown in the community. They were offering counseling during the week, hosting community meals, and running a youth program. That meant they needed strong liability protection too. But the insurance company that gave them the best "deal" on the church property insurance didn’t offer the liability coverage they needed to fully protect their church. They had to make a choice. Or at least they thought they did.
Access To Better Pricing Or Coverage Options
While it is generally considered prudent to have all policies bundled with one insurance provider, sometimes it just isn't practical. Just like different churches, some insurance carriers do better with certain things than others. One company might be great at covering older buildings but not have strong liability protection. Another might offer great liability insurance for churches but doesn’t want to cover big property risks.
The church in Abilene made the complicated decision to use two different top-rated insurance providers for the upcoming policy year. One gave them a fair rate for commercial property insurance to cover the building and its contents. The other gave them strong coverage for liability risks the ministries have that operate every week.
By doing this, they didn’t have to give up on good protection in their church insurance coverage just to make the budget work. The church board making this decision found this to be the best compromise.
Working Around Limitations from One Carrier
The finance committee focused on key potential risks from a liability standpoint. The counseling ministry at the church had long been a steady ministry, but now was growing fast. They recognized that this also created risk for the congregation without adequate coverage. Some insurance proposals they saw either refused to cover it or offered very small limits for that type of work which created an uninsured risk.
They had a proposal from a property insurance company that won't issue a liability policy. A different company that focuses on liability for churches had no problem providing additional coverage for counseling, volunteers, and abuse-related claims. But they did not offer church property insurance in Texas.
The great news is that using two policies from different companies gave the church in Abilene real property coverage on their older building, and the freedom to keep doing their key ministries with robust church liability coverage. In the end, two different companies offering them church insurance policies was the way to go.
Partnering With Niche Companies For Specialized Needs
As if it isn't obvious, not every church or religious organization looks the same. And not every insurance company is good at covering every church need. Our friends in Abilene didn't think they were that unique. But this process made them realize that older, historical churches in Texas require very specific church insurance companies to cover their older church buildings. Covering older structures doesn't happen with just any company.
For the liability side, they found that working with a provider that focused on ministry risks like counseling services was incredibly beneficial. The cost of liability insurance has increased lately, but these companies understand better what happens during youth events, prayer sessions, and counseling appointments. Putting those two together gave the church the peace of mind they were looking for.
Why a Church Insurance Specialist Matters
It can be confusing trying to sort through the details of coverage for churches in Texas. The terms used sound weird and it often doesn't make sense with all of the new changes. If something happens, you don’t want to be stuck with policies that don’t match up to your needs.
That’s why the Abilene church worked with our church insurance specialist. The experienced agent at Insurance For Texans helped them find the right combination of coverage, even if it did require two different insurance companies to get it done. The independent agent made sure there were no gaps and that the policies worked together in harmony to make sure that they have adequate insurance coverage.
The church felt confident that they were protected and that someone was looking out for their best interest. This provided them the peace of mind that they were seeking when they called us.
Protect Your Ministry with True Texas Church Insurance
Insurance For Texans works with churches across the state to help them protect their buildings, their people, and their ministries. The True Texas Church Insurance program gives churches flexible options, including using more than one company when needed. The goal is to understand what sort of specialized insurance your church might need and find the best to provide it to your congregation. The Abilene church found the right answer, and your church can too.
Click the button below to talk to a church insurance specialist and find the right fit for your church’s coverage.