The Houses of Worship share the mission of serving their respective communities, strengthening parishioners and others in matters of faith and other needs. Despite the importance of the institution, the facility may suddenly close due to an unexpected calamity.

How do church, mosque and synagogue members protect themselves from the risk of loss, apart from, of course, prayer?

Of course, tailored insurance coverage is a must. But beyond that, instituting proper risk management policies can prevent and/or reduce the potential for loss from any of the various hazards that exist.

Follow below to see how a house of worship can combat related risk exposure.

Most Common Liability for Houses of Worship:

Slip and falls are the leading cause of liability for any business or non-profit, such as a religious center. To prevent or reduce risk, ensure facility parking spaces and sidewalks are cracked and winter snow and ice are removed. Additionally, caution signs should be posted next to wet floors, with dangerous areas cordoned off. If a spill occurs, it must be cleaned up immediately.

The corresponding insurance must include general liability and incorporate any outreach, charity or special event. Members of the house of worship must be included in the coverage.

Sexual abuse laws are another important issue for board members to be aware of. To avoid these types of cases, house of worship officials must choose volunteers and employees carefully, focusing on background checks and character reference assessments. Due to the prevalence of incidents, no adult should be alone with a minor and all volunteer and employee activity should be reviewed.

Insurance related to abuse and nuisance should come with general liability coverage.

Counseling risks are normal when the ministry or clergy offer this service, usually at no cost. House of Worship counselors should be on the lookout for cases that require professional references. Failing to refer a client for professional advice or medical intervention could result in a lawsuit for errors and omissions, as could speaking up about matters that were said in confidence.

Appropriate pastor’s professional liability insurance must be purchased along with general liability coverage.

Most common property problems

Lightning can do a lot of damage to a house of worship building along with the items it contains. It should be noted that lightning can pass through pipes and power lines, as well as telephone lines. This can cause fires, along with power surges and shock waves, which can cause damage.

Related insurance comes in basic form and special causes of loss coverage.

Storm damage is another big concern for houses of worship. To mitigate the potential for loss, board members need to be on top of maintenance and repair work. Special attention must be paid to roof issues, overgrowing tree limbs and security must be maintained at entry points, while sandbags must be placed in strategic areas when there is a threat of flooding.

The corresponding insurance must include replacement costs and wind and hail insurance.

Theft and robbery is one of the problems to highlight because thieves constantly take the copper from the air conditioning units. This can cause serious breakdowns and costly repair and/or replacement costs. Supervisory staff must cover the air conditioning unit with a cage, and musical instruments can be protected from theft by installing a burglar alarm at the central station that is heard by the police.

Related insurance covers churches, mosques, synagogues, and other places of worship.

Unfortunately, pipe bursts and wintertime are a reality that houses of worship need to be very aware of because the resulting damage can be devastating. Preventive measures include sufficient pipe insulation, along with a plumber’s repair and maintenance schedule.

Appropriate insurance must include water damage for places of worship.

Last but not least is the risk of fire in a place of worship. With candles often an integral part of the services, this is a real show. Using smokeless brands of candles will eliminate this risk. In addition, faulty and outdated wiring and the risk of arson must be considered. An electrician’s repair and maintenance schedule is an important aspect of prevention.

Related fire damage insurance must be included in basic and special causes of loss insurance.