If your church is in the unfortunate situation of leaving its long-term affiliation with The United Methodist Church, the process may seem daunting. The success and efficiency of the process will depend on engaging the right professionals, experienced in working with churches and non-profit organizations.
Insurance, both property and casualty as well as health benefits, will be a critical component of the denominational departure process. Because The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church has historically self-insured all insurance risk, any break from the conference will require new insurance coverage and the selection of the local congregation’s own professional insurance advisor. This advisor or agent should be able to provide you with the coverage all churches require, including: property insurance including hurricanes, general liability, automobile, umbrella, workers compensation, flood, directors & officers, employment practices, crime, cyber, pastoral professional, and sexual abuse coverage. The insurance agency you choose to work with should be able to provide claims professionals, risk management resources (written safety programs, employee handbooks, liability waivers, and other formal documents), and access to the top five (5) insurance carriers that compete for church insurance coverage.
As you plan for the departure and move into the local congregation’s own insurance program, it will be important to collect the following items to make the transition as efficient as possible and to get the best terms and premium:
Addresses and number of buildings for all locations, including parsonages
Construction information on buildings (building type, sq ft, roof type, year of updates/improvements)
Building replacement cost valuation (agents and carriers can estimate this, but recent appraisals are preferred)
Personal property valuation
# of full/part time staff and pastors
# volunteers and board or council members
Child Protection Policy
Year, make, model for all vehicles
Name, DOB and license # for all drivers
Current financial statement
Current “Loss Run” report outlining claims on all policies (associated with your congregation) for the last four (4) years
Gulfshore Insurance is uniquely prepared to provide all the insurance necessary for congregations departing from The United Methodist Church. As one of the largest agencies on Florida’s west coast, with offices in Naples, Ft. Myers, and Sarasota, Gulfshore Insurance specializes in churches and has access to all specialty insurance carriers. This means the process is efficient, thorough and provides the lowest premiums available. Appointments or conference calls can be scheduled with Gulfshore Insurance’s Church and Non-Profit Practice Leader, John Keller, by contacting him at jkeller@gulfshoreinsurance.com or 239-430-7541.
To view our complete risk management library of articles for churches and non-profits, click here.
John Keller, CRM ARM CIC AAI is Client Advisor & Risk Manager at Gulfshore Insurance specializing in non-profit and religious organizations. John works with a wide range of business clients to deliver strategic risk analysis and guidance. Comments and questions are welcome at jkeller@gulfshoreinsurance.com
So, what are the best steps for church leaders to protect members and guests from armed attackers?
Here are 4 fast steps to consider:
1.) Outsourced Private Security
Private security firms provide on-site services based on your schedule. These firms will provide armed and unarmed security and should be considered for regular services and special events. Just the presence of uniformed security acts as both reassurance and warning. Southwest Florida has some great security firms like Summit Security and Global Security Group International that are experienced in working with churches.
Outside of the obvious cost of outsourcing security, keep in mind that opting for armed third-party security may increase your liability insurance rates or preclude you from coverage from certain insurance carriers.
2.) Volunteer Security
Many churches have members with law enforcement, security, or military training, and they would gladly use those talents for the benefit of the church. While volunteers provide the backbone for all churches, it is critical that any security volunteers be properly screened and trained before making them part of the security team. Screening should include a criminal background check and training should include techniques in the use of appropriate force. Local law enforcement and security firms can be a resource for appropriate training.
A volunteer application and volunteer release forms should be used, and templates can be downloaded by following the links.
Quick note on Concealed Carry Firearms: The state of Florida does allow those with a concealed carry license to bring their guns to church. However, there is a HUGE caveat which I wrote about in another article “Can I Take My Gun to Church?” That caveat is whether your church also has a school (including preschool) on site. As any Conceal Carry Weapons Holder (CCWH) knows, it is a second-degree misdemeanor in Florida to carry a weapon on school grounds, even if the school is not in session and even if the school is in another building. This means that if your church has a school on site, then bringing licensed firearm to church is a no-go. If you have CCWH staff or members they may be a great backup plan but shouldn’t be relied on as a primary response, especially if there is a school on-site.
3.) Develop a Plan
A formal Emergency Action Plan can encompass not only weather and medical-related emergencies but should also include a plan of action for intruders and unruly guests. A plan does nothing on its own, so once developed, the plan should be reviewed, and employees or volunteers trained annually.
Your Emergency Action Plan should include guidelines regarding: dealing with unruly people, evacuation plans, seeking refuge, observation and detention, and lockdowns. You can download a sample Emergency Action Plan here.
4.) Control the Entrances
While there may be multiple potential entrances throughout the church facility in the form of front, rear, and side doors, the risk conscious church leaders will control the entrances. Fire code requires that attendees can exit the building through all doors, but that doesn’t mean they have to be open for entrance at any time. The best scenario is to have only one or two doors open for entrance and all doors open for exit. This allows for the security team to be concentrated at minimal entry points and used most efficiently.
To view our complete risk management library of articles for churches and non-profits, click here.
And in the case of a licensed Concealed Carry Weapon Holder (CCWH) bringing their firearm to church, there is a big catch…schools.
A CCWH in Florida is not restricted from bringing a firearm to church, but based on FL Statute790.06, is restricted from carrying at “any school, college, or professional athletic event, not related to firearms, or any elementary or secondary school facility or administration building.” Doing so would be a second-degree misdemeanor carrying a potential $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
Schools would include any preschool, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, secondary school, career center, or postsecondary school, whether public or nonpublic. In the case of a church that also happens to have a preschool, elementary, middle or high school on site, then church is a no-go for the CCWH firearm.
So, what are conscientious church leaders to do? The first step is to create a plan and determine whether armed security is necessary. Here is a link to another article entitled “4 Fast Steps to Protect Your Church Against Attackers” that contains an Emergency Action Plan template that churches can download and create customized plans for severe weather, medical emergencies, and unruly guests or armed intruders.
Any plan should include a security team with a combination of staff, volunteers, and outsourced security. If staff and volunteers are used, there needs to be consideration for the extent of their responsibilities, because organizing an in-house security force encroaches on Florida’s intent to regulate and license private security firms. US Law Shield put out a concise video regarding the potential issues that arise when organizing a security team in Florida churches, and it’s worth the five-minute watch.
To view our complete risk management library of articles for churches and non-profits, click here.
It’s that time of year. Many residents are heading back to the sunshine state from their northern homes as cooler temperatures have begun to spread across the U.S.
Having been away for several months, there several important reminders your property’s seasonal residents should consider as they head back to their winter residences.
Reminders for Your Associations’ Residents:
Let the association know you are back.
Inspect your home for weather related, pest, or other damages.
Inspect pipes, hose bibs, and washing machines to avoid and detect any potential leaks.
Turn on services such as water, phone, and cable.
Run the water in all of your fixtures to flush the pipes.
Be sure to check the air conditioning system and replace any dirty filters and screens.
Check for any evidence of attempted forced entry, including markings on your door frame around the lock and window screens that may have been tampered with, and for missing spare keys.
Check that all smoke detectors are functioning and install new batteries.
Check the property premises for any problems or deterioration.
If you are a returning board member who has been away for the summer, then there is probably work to be done for the association. Have an assessment meeting with your board and property manager. Discuss any concerns that have arisen over the past couple of months and solutions to explore that will improve the community.
If your church is in the unfortunate situation of leaving its long-term affiliation with The United Methodist Church, the process may seem daunting. The success and efficiency of the process will depend on engaging the right professionals, experienced in working with churches and non-profit organizations.
Private security firms provide on-site services based on your schedule. These firms will provide armed and unarmed security and should be considered for regular services and special events. Just the presence of uniformed security acts as both reassurance and warning. Southwest Florida has some great security firms like 
Yes, except…
It’s that time of year. Many residents are heading back to the sunshine state from their northern homes as cooler temperatures have begun to spread across the U.S.
