Question 1

Stained Glass Insurance

Accepted Answer

Stained glass windows are often irreplaceable and costly to repair or restore. Damage from vandalism, hail, fire, or weather can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, and finding qualified contractors to do the work right adds another layer of complexity. We can help you get a damage appraisal covered at no charge and make sure your stained glass is properly valued in your building limit or under a fine arts floater. That way you're protected if something does happen to those beautiful windows.

Question 2

Abuse and Molestation Insurance

Accepted Answer

Hundreds of allegations surface each year involving clergy, staff, volunteers, or congregation members, and many more go unreported. We'll add abuse and molestation coverage to your policy and recommend you have written prevention and response protocols in place. This protects both your congregation and your organization if an allegation arises.

Question 3

Non-Owned Auto Insurance

Accepted Answer

Church volunteers and staff regularly use their personal vehicles for ministry work, mission trips, and transporting members. We add hired and non-owned auto coverage to your policy to protect you when volunteers drive their own cars for church business. We'll also recommend checking motor vehicle records for anyone transporting kids or other vulnerable groups.

Question 4

Religious Freedom Insurance

Accepted Answer

Churches with deeply held beliefs sometimes face lawsuits when their convictions affect others, such as declining to perform ceremonies that conflict with doctrine. We can add religious freedom coverage to protect your church if you're sued because of beliefs core to your faith. This shields your organization from defense costs and liability when your values are challenged.

Question 5

Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (D&O)

Accepted Answer

Your church board makes critical financial and operational decisions. A single misstep, like misusing someone's trademarked property in a fundraiser, can result in a lawsuit with defense costs and damages reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars. D&O insurance protects your board members and church from liability claims related to their decisions and actions. Instead of suing individuals directly, claims are defended under the policy, which is why anyone serving on a volunteer board should insist on this coverage.

Question 6

Church Roof

Accepted Answer

Roof claims are the most common losses churches face. Wind and hail storms cause billions in damage nationally each year, and your steeple and sanctuary are at particular risk. We make sure you're insured to full replacement cost for roof damage from wind and hail. That way, when a storm hits, you're rebuilt, not caught short on the repair bill.

Question 7

Church Security

Accepted Answer

Security incidents at houses of worship have increased in recent years, putting your congregation at risk during worship and events. Every church should have a detailed security plan that covers emergency exits, controlled access during services, staff trained to spot threats, and clear response protocols. We can help you develop one tailored to your facility and community.

Question 8

Professional Liability Insurance

Accepted Answer

Religious leaders counsel couples and members on personal matters, and they may also face claims over what they say from the pulpit or in teaching roles. We add professional liability coverage to your policy to protect leaders and your church from claims arising from counseling or teaching. We also recommend clear counseling guidelines and training on what situations must be reported to authorities.

Question 9

Is church insurance the same as a standard commercial property and liability policy?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly. A standard commercial package is built for a business that sells goods or services, while a church has exposures that do not appear in most commercial policies: pastoral counseling liability, abuse and molestation coverage, stained glass and fine-arts valuation, religious freedom liability, and coverage for mission trips. Carriers who specialize in houses of worship build those coverages into their church programs, either as standard inclusions or available endorsements.

Question 10

Does our church need workers compensation if we only have a few paid staff?

Accepted Answer

In Idaho, most employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers compensation. That includes churches with paid administrators, childcare workers, custodians, or ministry staff, even if the position is part-time. Volunteer workers generally do not trigger the requirement, but the line between volunteer and employee can be fact-specific. Bittick can walk you through how Idaho's rules apply to your congregation's staffing structure.

Question 11

How do we make sure our stained glass is covered for what it would actually cost to restore?

Accepted Answer

The starting point is a professional appraisal from a conservator or appraiser who specializes in ecclesiastical art. Once you have a documented value, Bittick can work with carriers to include that amount in your building limit or write a separate fine-arts floater. Policies that go without an appraisal often settle stained glass claims at a fraction of the actual restoration cost, because the carrier has no agreed value to work from.

Question 12

What is hired and non-owned auto coverage, and does our church need it?

Accepted Answer

Hired and non-owned auto coverage protects the church when someone drives a vehicle the church does not own on behalf of the congregation, such as a volunteer transporting youth group members or a staff member running an errand in a personal car. The driver's personal auto policy is the primary coverage, but if it falls short or the insurer disputes the claim, the church's hired and non-owned auto coverage responds. Any congregation whose volunteers regularly use personal vehicles for ministry activities should carry it.

Question 13

We have an all-volunteer board. Do the members need directors and officers coverage?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and volunteer board members especially should insist on it before agreeing to serve. D&O liability covers the board when someone sues the organization over a financial or operational decision, and without it, individual board members can be named in the lawsuit personally. A single allegation of mismanagement or breach of fiduciary duty can generate defense costs well into six figures. Bittick can add D&O liability to your church policy or write it as a stand-alone policy depending on your congregation's size.

Question 14

Does Bittick write church insurance only in Idaho?

Accepted Answer

No. Bittick is licensed in CA, CO, ID, NV, OR, TX, VA, and WA. Our primary office is in Eagle, Idaho, and we have a second office in San Antonio, Texas. We work with congregations across all of those states and place coverage with multiple carriers so we are not limited to one program's appetite.

Eagle Office

San Antonio Office

Insurance Built for Houses of Worship

Your church faces unique risks that standard business insurance may not cover.

The risk

How this coverage helps

What this coverage includes

Property coverage for the building and its contents

Stained glass and fine-arts coverage

Liability coverage for the congregation and its leaders

Abuse and molestation liability

Hired and non-owned auto, mission travel, and other specialized coverages

Pairs well with

Commercial Property Insurance

General Liability Insurance

Directors and Officers (D&O) Liability

Workers Compensation Insurance

Commercial Auto Insurance

Umbrella / Excess Liability Insurance

Frequently asked questions

Talk to Bittick about coverage for your congregation