Policy Highlights — Church Insurance
Colonial General Insurance Agency, Inc. offers a dedicated Church Insurance program designed for houses of worship and related operations. The program is available on a mono-line or packaged basis and is underwritten with features agents need when placing church, parish, chapel, and other faith-based risks.
Overview of the Program
This program provides primary and excess liability capacity, property coverage options, crime protection, and specialized liability extensions that matter to congregations — including clergy counseling E&O and coverage for daycare/preschool operations. Colonial General places business in admitted and non-admitted markets depending on state and risk characteristics (Some Available Markets).
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
- Commercial General Liability: Primary limits up to $3,000,000 occurrence/aggregate.
- Specialized Liability Extensions: Clergy counseling Errors & Omissions and E&O for daycare/preschool operations.
- Abuse Coverage: Sexual/physical abuse limits available — typically $100,000 per claim / $300,000 aggregate (limits vary by market).
- Included Protections: Medical payments ($5,000), additional interests, and options for excess/umbrella limits up to $25,000,000.
- No deductible required on certain liability placements (subject to carrier and state availability).
- Property: Basic, Broad, or Special forms for building, contents, business income, computer equipment, equipment breakdown, fine arts floaters, food spoilage, outside signs, valuable papers, and options for replacement cost or actual cash value.
- Crime: Inside-the-premises theft of money and securities; inside robbery or safe burglary of other property; and outside-the-premises theft coverage.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
This program works best for small to mid-size congregations and worship facilities that operate typical religious services, community outreach programs, fellowship events, and optional childcare/preschool activities. Appetite includes:
- Parishes, churches, chapels, and mission sites
- Facilities with on-site daycare or preschool programs
- Properties with fine arts, historic elements, or volunteer-run programs
Accounts with recent or multiple severe sexual abuse claims, uncontrolled volunteers with unsupervised access to children, or very large exposures may require supplemental underwriting or placement in specialty markets.
Underwriting Notes
- Admitted vs. non-admitted availability varies by state and the insured’s loss history; Colonial General can access admitted carriers in some markets and E&S capacity where needed.
- Detailed information about childcare operations, background checks, volunteer screening, building values, and protection systems will accelerate quotes.
- Minimum premiums and binding thresholds depend on the carrier selected; submit full ACORD applications and current loss runs for prompt review.
Territories and Licensing
Program availability: AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, UT, WY. Coverage offerings, admitted status, and specific limits vary by state and carrier.
Why Place Church Business with Colonial General
As a Managing General Agency and Excess & Surplus lines broker, Colonial General combines targeted church underwriting with access to multiple admitted and E&S markets. The program’s strengths are its specialized liability extensions (clergy counseling E&O and daycare E&O), abuse coverage options, flexible property forms, and significant umbrella capacity. Colonial General is positioned to help brokers find tailored solutions for faith-based clients where standard markets may be limited.
Example Accounts
- A suburban church with a 150-person congregation, weekday preschool program, and community outreach events — needs primary liability, abuse coverage, and E&O for counseling staff.
- A rural historic chapel with valuable artwork and a small volunteer-run food pantry — needs special-form property with a fine arts floater and crime coverage for donation handling.