By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Where child sexual abuse is concerned, peer-to-peer abuse provides the curveball of sexual abuse risk. To recognize and address it properly, a ministry must be watching for it. Common fact patterns Peer-to-peer sexual abuse — children molesting or abusing other children — unfolds in predictable patterns. Some years ago, […]
Read More >
By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Our church just completed a Registered Sex Offender (RSO) Policy. Will you review it and tell us if it’s adequate? We frequently encounter this (seemingly simple) question in our law practice. In reality, the issue is multi-faceted and complex, and tends to kick off a broader discussion. In the […]
Read More >
By Rodney C. James Picture a group of men and women at the ready. Hard hats, leather gloves, steel toe boots, hammers, nails, and all the tools needed to tear down, renovate or expand your church building. A beautiful scene, isn’t it? Not so fast. Let’s rewind the tape. Where are permissions needed from the […]
Read More >
As many of us look toward a fresh start in 2021, some insurance industry experts say we can’t forget where we’ve been in 2020. The global pandemic — originally assumed to be a short-term event — is likely to continue for months into the future. How does that affect the coming year? Peter Mahler, vice […]
Read More >
Can ministries be held financially responsible? By Gregory S. Love, Esq. & Kimberlee D. Norris, Esq. On May 18, 2020, the Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy protection, largely in response to mounting sexual abuse allegations and civil lawsuits. This bankruptcy filing further complicates liability concerns for organizations (churches, schools, camps, conference centers) that […]
Read More >
Religious leaders report reduced giving, increased use of technology To document the impact of COVID-19 on church life, Ministry Brands — a leading provider of software, services, and information platforms for churches, ministries, and those they serve — this week released new data from a recently completed national survey of churches across multiple denominations. The […]
Read More >
Avoiding Common Pitfalls By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Every church — whether it’s multi-campus or a recent plant — deals with insurance coverage. Ministry leaders tend to gravitate to the least expensive policy options and often lack knowledge about what they should be looking for when securing coverage related to child sexual abuse risk. […]
Read More > How to assess your church’s child sexual abuse risk points — and how to do (much) better In many churches, leaders think child sexual abuse “can’t happen here.” What’s the reality? Guy A. Russ: Any organization that serves children must understand the statistics: one in four girls and one in 13 boys are likely to […]
Read More >
Headlines regarding abuse in the Church cause us to grieve. As experts in church insurance and ministry, we know that churches and ministries never question the importance of protecting the children and other vulnerable populations entrusted to their care. But it’s how you go about protecting those you serve that has become more difficult and […]
Read More >
Answer: Sexual abuse with a minor A single lawsuit can derail a thriving, growing church and cost millions of dollars, as well as the loss of members and their faith in the safety of the church. Such a catastrophe can happen to any church without proper risk management strategies in place. Being prepared for the […]
Read More >