Church Mutual Announcement
Endorsement of Church Mutual Insurance Company
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Endorsement of Church Mutual Insurance Company
On behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Office of the Secretary in consultation with the Office of the Treasurer has selected Church Mutual Insurance Company as the underwriter of the ELCA-Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program for Congregations and Synods and Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs (HRH) as its brokerage representative.
The decision to move the program to Church Mutual, which is effective immediately, was based on the goal to provide ELCA congregations and synods with quality insurance protection and enhanced customer service. It also allows ELCA to take advantage of the more than 111 years of experience Church Mutual has in the religious marketplace.
Today, Church Mutual insures more than 97,000 religious organizations nationwide--more than twice as many as any other insurance company. Church Mutual currently insures the ELCA churchwide office, nine ELCA regional offices, various synod offices and approximately 3,300 ELCA congregations .
ELCA’s Secretary, David Swartling, noted that Church Mutual has provided coverage to many ELCA congregations and has an excellent reputation for service. The availability of coverage and effective claims handling and service are pivotal considerations in selecting a property and casualty insurance partner.
Gerald Whitburn, Church Mutual’s chairman and chief executive officer said, “We welcome the opportunity to broaden our relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. As a mutual insurance company, we are dedicated to serving our customers--who are our owners--and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the ELCA in this program.”
Church Mutual has earned its exceptional reputation as a specialist insuring churches and related organizations by understanding the unique needs of each congregation it serves. New congregational and synod policyholders get the added benefit of a custom, on-site insurance needs analysis to help ensure the best possible coverage.
The ELCA can be confident in its decision to endorse Church Mutual because of the company’s strong reputation for paying claims and financial stability. Church Mutual has been rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best every year since 1952. No other church specialist holds a rating this high.
A noted benefit to Church Mutual’s policyholders is their National Customer Service Center. Each customer service representative is a licensed insurance professional who can answer coverage questions, provide certificates of insurance and initiate policy changes. The typical caller waits an average of just 15 seconds for a live response. These dedicated professionals support more than 200 Church Mutual field representatives nationwide who are available to locally serve customer needs.
You may find additional information regarding the ELCA-Endorsed Church Mutual Property and Liability Insurance Program for Congregations and Synods at www.churchmutual.com/elca in the near future.
ELCA-Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program (brochure) 
ELCA Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program Update (August, 2009)
The ELCA Office of the Secretary would like to take this opportunity to share exciting news with you. From the May 1, 2008 ELCA endorsement of Church Mutual Insurance Company to June 30, 2009 . . .
- 26 additional synods are now participating in the endorsed insurance program. Church Mutual now insures 42 of ELCA's synods.
- 362 congregations have also joined the endorsed insurance program since its inception. This is in addition to the 3,300 congregations already insured by Church Mutual.
The goal of the ELCA Endorsed Property and Liability Insurance Program is to provide ELCA congregations and synods with quality insurance protection and enhanced customer service. Church Mutual has over 112 years of experience in the religious marketplace. It has been rated A+ (Superior) by the leading financial industry analyst, A.M. Best, every year since 1952. Today, Church Mutual insures nearly 100,000 religious organizations nationwide - more than twice as many as any other insurance company. Church Mutual also currently insures the ELCA churchwide office and its nine ELCA regional offices.
The endorsed insurance program continues to grow and may make a difference for your ministry. Would you like to know more about the ELCA endorsed insurance program and what it can do for your congregation or synod? For further information, please contact: