by David Washburn, BGAV Treasurer

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Every fall, a familiar envelope lands on the desk of church treasurers and pastors across our fellowship: the insurance renewal notice. And every fall, more of us open it with a quiet wince.

Health care coverage and property/liability insurance have become two of the most pressing, least discussed challenges facing local congregations and denominational ministries today. They rarely make it into a sermon or a business meeting agenda item with much fanfare, but they shape real decisions about staffing, building use, and mission.

On the health care side, small churches and ministries are caught in a difficult bind. Group health plans built for large employers don’t fit well for a congregation with two or three staff members. Premiums climb year over year, often outpacing a church’s budget growth, forcing hard choices—to reduce coverage, to ask staff to absorb more cost, or in some cases, forgo group coverage altogether and shift to a stipend model. None of these are easy conversations to have with people who have given their lives to ministry and now wonder whether they can afford to see a doctor.

Property and liability insurance tell a similar story from a different angle. Many of our church buildings are decades old—cherished, but costly to insure. Insurers are growing more cautious about aging roofs, outdated wiring, and fellowship halls that double as event spaces for the community. Add in the increased frequency of severe weather claims across our region, and carriers are tightening underwriting standards, raising deductibles in ways that catch congregations off guard, and sometimes, simply cancelling the policy. A hospitality-minded church that opens its doors to community groups, sports leagues, or shelter ministries can suddenly find that generosity comes with a heftier premium.

What can be done? Collaboration matters more than ever. Denominational networks, insurance cooperatives, and shared-services arrangements can give smaller churches access to pricing and expertise they could never negotiate alone. Regular risk assessments—walking the property with fresh eyes, updating electrical systems, and training volunteers on basic safety practices—can also make a meaningful difference in both premiums and, more importantly, in protecting the people who gather in our buildings.

These are not glamorous topics. But stewardship has always included the unglamorous work of caring well for what God has entrusted to us—our people and our properties alike. Congregations who face these challenges honestly and seek wise counsel and partnership along the way will be better positioned to keep their doors open and their staff cared for in the years ahead.

Rev. David Washburn is BGAV’s treasurer.

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