5 Liability Risks Churches Often Overlook (and How to Address Them)

The Overlooked Risks Facing Churches

Churches and ministries are more than places of worship—they are community centers, schools, counseling hubs, and outreach bases. With such wide-ranging activities, it’s easy for leadership to miss certain liability exposures. At Strong Tower Insurance, we’ve spent nearly 50 years helping churches and nonprofits uncover hidden risks and address them with the right coverage. Here are five of the most overlooked areas—and how to protect your ministry from costly surprises.

What We Mean by Liability

Liability means responsibility under the law for injuries, damages, or losses that occur in connection with your ministry’s activities. It could involve a slip-and-fall in the fellowship hall, an accident during a youth trip, or even a claim of discrimination in hiring. Liability insurance helps cover legal defense costs, settlements, and damages, ensuring the church’s resources remain available for ministry.

Why It Matters

Ignoring liability risks can put your congregation’s finances, reputation, and mission at stake. A single lawsuit—even one that’s unfounded—can cost thousands in defense fees. Beyond the money, legal battles create stress for pastors, staff, volunteers, and boards. By identifying these exposures early, your church can serve confidently knowing the ministry is protected.

Five Overlooked Church Liability Risks

1. Counseling Liability

Many pastors and staff provide spiritual or emotional counseling. Without endorsements or separate coverage, a claim of negligent advice may not be covered under a standard general liability policy.

2. Abuse & Molestation Allegations

These claims, while difficult to discuss, are among the most financially and reputationally damaging a ministry can face. Specialized coverage with clear sublimits and defense outside the policy limit is critical.

3. Volunteer Involvement

Volunteers are the backbone of most churches. However, if a volunteer causes an accident while acting on behalf of the church—or is injured themselves—liability can be murky. Policies should extend coverage to volunteers and consider volunteer accident options.

4. Non-Owned & Hired Auto

Church staff or volunteers often use their personal cars for ministry errands. If they get into an accident, the church can still be held liable. Endorsements for non-owned and hired auto liability close this gap.

5. Event & Outreach Liability

Community picnics, concerts, or even mission trips create unique liability exposures. From foodborne illness at a potluck to injury during an outreach event at a local park, ministries need coverage that travels with them.

Issues Churches Commonly Face

• Assuming “we’re small, it won’t happen here.” Lawsuits happen at all sizes.
• Believing general liability covers everything. Many key exposures require endorsements.
• Relying on personal auto insurance. Most personal policies won’t extend to church business use.
• Lack of board awareness. Trustees may not realize where coverage stops.

How Strong Tower Insurance Helps

Strong Tower Insurance works exclusively with ministries and nonprofits across Florida and the Southeast. We review your current coverage, identify gaps, and recommend solutions designed for real-world ministry life. Whether you need endorsements for counseling, volunteer protection, or expanded limits for big events, our team helps boards and committees understand their options in plain language.

Don’t Leave Your Ministry Exposed

Protect Your Church from Hidden Risks

Every ministry has blind spots—but with the right insurance partner, you don’t have to face them alone. Strong Tower Insurance offers tailored liability solutions for churches and nonprofits across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, and the Carolinas.

Ready to strengthen your coverage? Contact us today for a free liability review and customized church insurance quote.