Volunteer Church Security Liability Insurance

Houses of Worship are increasingly turning to their congregants to voluntarily provide security protection during services.

This display of altruism will not be enough to shield them from personal liability in the event they are forced to respond to an incident.

Unfortunately, Houses of Worship are increasingly becoming the targets of hostile acts. Between January 2018 and November 2023, at least 915 incidents occurred. These trends are on the rise; there were 436 hostile acts perpetrated against churches in 2023.

That number is twice as many as those reported in 2022 and eight times higher than in 2018.

Churches are taking steps to address these troubling statistics. According to a recent study by Lifeway Research, about 4 in 5 U.S. Protestant pastors say their church has some type of security measure in place. Slightly over half – 54% – use armed congregants as part of their overall protective strategies.

Rockwood Programs has an established reputation as a premier provider of insurance coverage by offering competitive rates and outstanding customer service.

Our team is uniquely positioned to help address your client’s church security liability needs. Rockwood’s insurance product is underwritten by a carrier rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best. This rating is a reflection of the company’s financial stability and claims-paying ability.

COVERAGE HIGHLIGHTS

The insurance is purchased by the Church on behalf of the volunteer security team
$300,000 limit per volunteer, subject to $1,000,000 policy aggregate
Coverage is available for churches with up to 1,000 congregants. Maximum number of volunteers: 10
Premiums start at $750
Legal defense and indemnity coverage provided for civil actions only (not criminal)
Coverage can be broadened to include services held at any satellite location
On-line security training is available to insured volunteers at no cost
Pre-claim legal hotline access provided

Of course, the true litmus test of any insurance policy is how well it responds in the event of a loss.

Claims administration is provided by the internationally-recognized law firm of Wilson Elser. At any time, their contingent of over 1,000 attorneys is actively engaged in some 100,000 defense and coverage matters. Over the course of nearly 45 years, Wilson Elser has established a reputation of providing an advocacy defense for its clients.

FORMS AND ENDORSEMENTS

VOLUNTEER CHURCH SECURITY APPLICATION
VOLUNTEER CHURCH SECURITY ROSTER
SPECIMEN/SAMPLE POLICY
PRESS RELEASE
INFORMATION SHEET

To learn more about our insurance offering specifically designed for Volunteer Church Security members, contact us.

Megan Franco
Church Professional Liability Specialist
megan.franco@rockwoodinsurance.com
(800) 499-7242
Download our product information sheet