Church and religious organization insurance
Coverage for houses of worship across Washington and Oregon, built around the property, liability, pastoral and abuse-prevention exposures that a general business policy doesn't address.
Religious-organization markets · Stewardship-minded pricing
Ministry creates its own exposures
Childcare programs, youth groups, mission trips, counseling and community outreach each create distinct liability exposures. Whether you're a small congregation in rented space or a large campus with schools and daycare, pastoral professional liability, sexual abuse coverage and proper property protection belong at the core of the program.
First Underwriters has insured Pacific Northwest faith communities since 1992. For more on houses-of-worship risk, see the Insurance Information Institute, and for nonprofit governance, the National Council of Nonprofits.
How a single church exposure escalates
Illustrative examples of what happens when coverage is missing or excluded, and what closes the gap.
A historic abuse allegation surfaces years later
An adult came forward with allegations of abuse by a former youth leader 15 years earlier. The church faced legal defense, settlement negotiations and the duty of caring for those affected and its congregation. Many standard liability policies exclude or sublimit abuse claims, and a church without dedicated coverage and verified retroactive dates can pay these claims from its own funds.
- Legal defense$340,000
- Settlement$700,000
- Victim assistance$90,000
- Congregation and crisis support$70,000
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
Build the right program for your ministry
Every church program starts with property, general liability and business income. Tell us how your ministry operates and we'll show what else typically applies. A starting point for your quote; no contact details needed.
Your operation
Select everything that applies.
Coverage that typically applies
8 coverages — a starting point for a conversation, not a quote.
- Church PropertySanctuary, contents, organs and sacred items.
- General LiabilityInjuries and property damage from your activities.
- Business IncomeSustains the ministry if a loss forces closure.
- Sexual Abuse & MisconductEssential when serving minors and vulnerable adults.
- Pastoral Professional LiabilityCounseling and clergy-malpractice claims.
- Workers' CompensationRequired for staff injuries on the job.
- Employment Practices LiabilityDiscrimination, harassment and termination claims.
- Crime / FidelityEmbezzlement and theft of offerings.
From ministry review to safety resources
Understand your ministry
Your programs, property and people: worship, childcare and youth, counseling, mission trips, vehicles, staff, volunteers, drivers, congregation size and finances, plus property, organ and artwork values.
Match to church markets
We approach carriers that specialize in religious organizations and price ministry risk fairly, with options across more than 50 markets.
Build the ministry program
Property, general liability and business income at the core, with abuse coverage ($1M+), pastoral professional, D&O, crime, auto and umbrella added, and buildings and sacred items valued with appraisals and agreed values.
Safety resources and claims
Child-protection resources, background checks and the two-adult rule, supervision and training guidance, a written child-protection policy, and claims support from first notice.
Every coverage a religious organization may need
Filter by type or search to see the coverage we place for churches, ministries and houses of worship.
Church Property
The sanctuary, fellowship halls, classrooms and contents (pews, organs, sound systems, sacred items, stained glass and artwork), ideally at replacement cost with agreed values for irreplaceable pieces.
Business Income
Sustains the ministry if a fire or disaster forces temporary closure, replacing lost income and covering the extra expense of relocating services.
Commercial & Non-Owned Auto
Church-owned vans and buses plus hired and non-owned auto when volunteers use personal vehicles for youth trips, senior transport and ministry errands.
General Liability
Slip-and-fall injuries, food-service illness at church dinners, injuries during activities and damage to others' property, including personal and advertising injury and legal defense.
Pastoral Professional Liability
Clergy-malpractice coverage for pastors, priests and religious counselors against claims of harmful advice, breach of confidentiality, negligent counseling or failure to report.
Umbrella / Excess Liability
Additional limits ($1M–$10M+) above general liability, auto and employers liability when a serious claim exhausts primary limits.
Sexual Abuse & Misconduct
Abuse or misconduct claims involving clergy, staff or volunteers, with defense, settlement and victim assistance, plus risk-management resources for screening and supervision.
Directors & Officers (D&O)
Protects board members, elders and deacons from claims alleging wrongful acts in governance: mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty or improper decisions.
Employment Practices Liability
Employee claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation or wage violations, including ministerial-exception issues churches face.
Workers' Compensation
Employee injuries on the job, from office and maintenance accidents to medical treatment and wage replacement. Washington requires it for church staff.
Crime / Fidelity
Employee and volunteer theft, embezzlement, forgery and offering theft where trusted individuals handle donations and accounts.
Cyber Liability
Member-data breaches, donor-information theft, ransomware and online-giving compromise, including breach-notification costs.
Faith communities we serve
Coverage for every kind of congregation, ministry and faith-based organization.
Christian churches
Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and non-denominational congregations.
Synagogues
Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jewish communities.
Mosques
Islamic centers and mosques serving Muslim communities.
Temples
Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and other Eastern religious centers.
Bible study groups
Home churches and small groups in non-traditional spaces.
Religious schools
Parochial schools, Sunday schools and education programs.
Church daycare & preschool
Childcare ministries and early-childhood programs.
Youth camps
Summer camps, retreat centers and youth ministries.
Mission organizations
Domestic and international mission and sending agencies.
Faith-based nonprofits
Food banks and community-service ministries.
Worship centers
Contemporary worship and performing-arts ministries.
Parsonages & rectories
Church-owned housing for clergy and staff.
Brokers who understand ministry risk
Religious-organization experience
We understand churches and ministries, their coverage nuances and what faith communities need, and we work with carriers that specialize in religious organizations.
Stewardship-minded programs
Property, liability, abuse and specialty coverages packaged without gaps. As a broker, we compare options across the market with church budgets in mind.
Safety resources and claims support
Child-protection resources, safety guidelines and best practices that help prevent claims, and coordinated support from the first notice of a claim.
Ready to protect your ministry?
Request an insurance review to identify coverage gaps, property-valuation shortfalls and abuse-prevention needs. No obligation. Or email info@firstunderwriters.com.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder; the coverage builder is a starting point for discussion, not a quote. Scenarios and dollar figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any organization. Sexual abuse, professional and other coverages carry their own terms, sublimits, retroactive dates and exclusions. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.