By Bob Allen A lawsuit filed in Tennessee claims a Baptist church in the state was negligent in allowing a man with a history of complaints about sexual misconduct to volunteer at Vacation Bible School. ASSOCIATED BAPTIST PRESS — A Southern Baptist church in Tennessee is being sued for $2 million by a mother whose […]
Read More >The public perception of churches has hit a downward spiral as America becomes more and more “litigation-go-lucky.”
Read More >Floods and other disasters create a host of needs, foremost among them food and shelter. Moved by compassion, congregations may decide to shelter people affected by a crisis, with little forethought or planning.
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One of the most common and dangerous assumptions in ministry environments is that abuse risk is obvious. It is not. The risk of child sexual abuse is knowable, but it is not intuitive. Before prevention is possible, ministry leaders must prioritize gaining an understanding of this risk. Notwithstanding all of the media coverage of […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh With a combined 25 years of experience working with Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) and its church clients, Risk Management Vice President Andrew Shockey and Underwriting Human Services Product Manager Michael Nester know background checks. First and foremost, they know that not enough houses of worship are conducting them — and why. […]
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Proper documentation is essential to the defense of future claims and in the insurance underwriting process. One of the challenges insurance carriers face is defending organizations in lawsuits involving alleged abuse. Sexual abuse and misconduct claims are unique in that the claim is most often brought years after the alleged activity. Given the extended […]
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In the last few years, verdicts and settlements from sexual abuse have increased, reviver statutes have opened up the opportunity for claims related to decades-old alleged activity, and abuse issues are making headlines on a regular basis. While insurance carriers can’t do much to reduce claims from historical activity, some are making a concerted effort […]
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Examining their potential impact on sexual abuse prevention By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Many aspects of child sexual abuse risk are known and settled, including safety system elements necessary to prevent abuse. A significant challenge remains: inspiring the local church and child-serving ministries to understand and apply current standards of care in child-serving contexts. […]
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For the creators of Summit TV, their stories are beacons — for pastors and church members alike — that signal, I’ve been there, too. By RaeAnn Slaybaugh A visit to the Summit Integrated Systems website uncovers a wealth of church audio, video and lighting products and expertise. As a leader in this space, that’s expected. […]
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Q&A with Guy Russ, assistant vice president – Risk Control at Church Mutual Insurance Company Why should a church consider opening its facility as a temporary shelter? Russ: Emergency shelters and transitional living arrangements are important ways churches can help those in need. This includes providing living arrangements within worship centers, fellowship halls and educational […]
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