Risk Management, Loss Prevention and Insurance

As a current or prospective insured congregation or synod under the ELCA Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program underwritten by Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I., you may be interested in how effective risk management may assist your congregation.  Below are links to various Web sites and documents to further assist you in protecting your congregation from liability and loss. 

Additional resources on the topic of risk management and insurance are available on the drop down menu on the right or the Risk Management downloadable resource page.

To learn more about the ELCA endorsed program with Church Mutual, please visit the ELCA resource on the program or the Church Mutual brochure.

In times of tragedy or crisis, the American Red Cross touches the lives of those in need whether it be emergencies, tornadoes, hurricanes or earthquakes. The American Red Cross’ disaster preparedness app suite offers essential information on what to do before, during and after an emergency.

Church Mutual Safety Resources

• 10 Essentials of Winter Outing Safety
• 10 Essentials of Youth Outing Safety
• Armed Intruder
• Background Screening
• Child and Youth Sexual Abuse Prevention
• Copper Theft Prevention
• COVID-19: Safely Returning to Ministry
• Crime Prevention
• Emergency Preparedness
• Fire Prevention
• Food Safety
• Mission Trips
• Playground Safety
• Safety Resources for Camps
• Safety Resources for Houses of Worship
• Sanctuary Congregations – Helpful Tips
• Self-inspection Safety Checklist for Worship Centers
• Summer Outing Safety
• Swimmer and Water Safety
• Transportation
• Weather Risks  
• Workforce Management
• Workplace Safety

Risk Reporter is a quarterly risk management newsletter designed to inform you about risk exposures as well as the procedures you can follow to control those risks.  

Other Risk Management and Loss Prevention Resources

• "Managing Risks: First Steps in Identifying Congregational Liability" by Richard B. Couser, copyright (c) 1993 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.
• Our Stewardship: Managing Our Assets" by John L. Golv
• Our Staff: Building Our Human Resources" by Trish Holford
• as parts of the "Congregation LEADER Series" of Augsburg Fortress, Publishers

Disaster Preparedness

• Risk Reporter - Emergency Preparedness
• Church Mutual's Armed Intruder Resource Kit
• Congregational Disaster Preparedness Guidebook from Lutheran Disaster Response
• FEMA - Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) for Houses of Worship
• Staying Safe in Church
• Securing Soft Targets and Crowded Spaces

Protecting the Congregation's Financial Assets

• "Eleven Things I Have Learned from Dealing with Embezzlement," lessons from a synod bishop 
• What to do if your congregation or synod is or may be the victim of embezzlement
• Information insurance companies require in the event of an embezzlement
• Nonprofits and Embezzlement

Addressing Public Health Concerns

• H1N1 Flu Information
• ELCA Addresses Worship in Times of Public Health Concerns

Claims Handling

• Specific Pointers Regarding Church Property Losses

Insurance Records and Policies

• Guidelines for keeping insurance records and why you should never throw out an insurance policy

Do you have questions, concerns, problems?

If you are an eligible ELCA congregation or synod and have any questions or are encountering any difficulties concerning the ELCA Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program, please contact:

Director-Risk Management
Office of the Secretary
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
8765 W. Higgins Road
Chicago, Illinois 60631
Telephone: 800-638-3522 ext. 2403
Fax: 773-380-2977