More than 1,000 California churches have lost their insurance in the past two years. If your church still has coverage, it likely has gaps that could put your entire congregation at financial risk. Here is what to look for and what to do about it.
Running a church in California means managing a building open to the public, programs serving vulnerable populations, vehicles transporting members, and staff offering counseling in private sessions. Each of these activities represents an insurance risk that a standard commercial policy was never designed to cover.
Yet most churches buy a basic property and liability policy and assume they are covered. They are not — and they usually find out at the worst possible moment: when a claim is denied.
If your church received a non-renewal notice in the past 24 months, you are not alone. Church Mutual Insurance Company — the largest insurer of religious organizations in the United States — has non-renewed more than 1,000 church policies in California since 2024. They are not the only ones. Brotherhood Mutual and several regional carriers have also pulled out of the California market.
The reasons are structural:
Pastors and church counselors meet privately with members to discuss marital problems, addictions, grief, depression, and abuse. These conversations create a professional liability exposure identical to that of a licensed therapist — but most church policies do not include professional liability coverage.
What you need: A dedicated pastoral counseling liability endorsement. Hartford's church insurance program includes pastoral professional liability as part of the package.
This is the coverage gap that can financially destroy a church. With AB 218's lookback window in California, claims can be filed for incidents alleged to have occurred decades ago.
There is a critical difference in policy language:
Hartford offers sexual misconduct coverage on an occurrence basis — the strongest protection available.
Most church activities do not happen inside the building. Youth retreats, mission trips, community service projects — all create liability exposure away from your premises.
A standard policy covers your building and your grounds. Once your youth group boards a bus, you may have no coverage for injuries, property damage, or medical emergencies off-site.
What you need: An off-premises activities endorsement that extends your general liability to church-sponsored events regardless of location.
Churches across the country operate 15-passenger vans to transport members. These vans have a documented rollover risk and create enormous liability exposure.
What you need: A commercial auto policy with adequate liability limits, coverage for volunteer drivers, and hired/non-owned auto. Hartford writes commercial auto for churches including 15-passenger vans.
Churches are employers. They hire and fire pastors, music directors, administrative staff, custodians, and daycare workers. Each employment decision creates potential for a claim: wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation.
What you need: Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) as part of your church insurance program. Hartford includes EPLI in its church package.
Is your church properly insured? Via Rapida Services is an appointed Hartford agent specializing in church insurance. We can review your current policy, identify gaps, and provide a Hartford quote — usually within 48 hours.
Call 209-670-1556 Commercial Insurance| Coverage | What It Protects |
|---|---|
| Property | Building, contents, stained glass, organs, sound equipment — replacement cost |
| General Liability | Third-party bodily injury and property damage claims |
| Pastoral Liability | Professional liability for counseling activities |
| Sexual Misconduct (Occurrence) | Claims regardless of when filed if incident occurred during the policy |
| Off-Premises Activities | Liability for church events away from the property |
| Commercial Auto | Church vehicles including vans, volunteer drivers |
| EPLI | Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment claims from employees |
| Workers Compensation | Required by California law if you have paid employees |
| Umbrella | Excess liability above all underlying policies |
The Hartford is rated A+ (Superior) by AM Best, which means your church is backed by one of the strongest carriers in the country.