Athens-area churches need property coverage, general liability, workers' compensation (if 3+ employees), and abuse and molestation coverage at minimum. MinistrySure is an independent insurance agency that works exclusively with churches and ministries across Georgia — including Athens-Clarke County, Oconee County, and the surrounding northeast Georgia region.
Athens is home to hundreds of churches — from historic downtown congregations with century-old sanctuaries to growing church plants in Oconee and Barrow counties. Each one faces insurance questions specific to how they operate, what they own, and the programs they run. Our team has served more than 700 Georgia ministries and understands the coverage needs of churches in the Athens area.
What Athens Churches Need to Know About Insurance
Athens churches face insurance challenges driven by aging historic buildings with replacement costs 20-40% above insured values, severe weather and hail exposure, university-related ministry programming that adds liability, and rapid growth in surrounding counties like Oconee and Barrow. Each of these factors affects which coverages your church needs and how your property should be valued.
Historic Buildings and Replacement Cost
Athens has a large stock of older church buildings — brick sanctuaries, stained glass, pipe organs, and architectural details that are expensive to replace. Many of these churches are insured at values far below what it would actually cost to rebuild them at current material and labor prices. We regularly find Athens churches underinsured on property by 20-40%.
Replacement cost valuation is critical. If your sanctuary was built in 1960 and insured for what it cost then, your policy won't cover what it costs to rebuild it today. A proper building valuation accounts for current construction costs, specialty materials, code upgrades required by Clarke County, and the unique architectural elements that make your building irreplaceable.
Severe Weather Exposure
Northeast Georgia is vulnerable to severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, hail, and occasional tornadoes. Athens-Clarke County has experienced significant storm events that damaged church buildings and roofs. Your property policy should reflect these risks with appropriate wind and hail coverage, and your deductible structure should be something your church can absorb if a storm hits.
Flood coverage is separate from standard property insurance. Churches near the North Oconee River, the Middle Oconee River, or any of the creeks that run through Clarke County should check their flood zone status and consider a flood policy.
University Town Dynamics
Athens is a college town, and many churches serve both the permanent community and the University of Georgia student population. If your church runs college ministry programs, hosts student events, provides temporary housing for students, or operates shuttle transportation for campus ministry, those activities create additional liability exposures that should be addressed in your policy.
Growing Northeast Georgia Corridor
The Athens area — including Oconee County, Barrow County, Jackson County, and Madison County — is one of the fastest-growing regions in Georgia. New church plants and expanding congregations need insurance programs that can scale with them. A church that starts with 50 members in a rented space has different coverage needs than the same church three years later with 300 members and its own building.
Every person on our team was hired to serve churches. It's the only thing we do.
Coverage Types for Athens-Area Churches
Athens-area churches typically need property insurance, general liability, workers' compensation, abuse and molestation coverage, directors and officers liability, commercial auto, cyber liability, umbrella liability, and employment practices liability. The right program depends on your buildings, staff count, ministry programs, and budget — churches with older buildings should prioritize accurate replacement cost valuations.
- Property insurance — covers your buildings, contents, equipment, and signage at replacement cost.
- General liability — covers bodily injury and property damage from church operations and events.
- Workers' compensation — required by Georgia law for churches with three or more employees (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-2).
- Abuse and molestation coverage — non-negotiable for any church with children's or youth ministry. Standard liability policies exclude these claims.
- Directors and officers (D&O) — protects board members, elders, and deacons from personal liability for decisions made in their official capacity.
- Commercial auto — covers church-owned vehicles. Hired and non-owned auto covers liability when staff or volunteers drive personal vehicles for church business.
- Cyber liability — covers data breaches, ransomware, and online giving platform incidents.
- Umbrella liability — provides an additional layer above your general liability, auto, and employer's liability limits.
- Employment practices liability (EPLI) — covers claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment from employees.
For a detailed breakdown of each coverage type and what it costs, see our complete guide to church insurance in Georgia.
Not sure if your Athens church is properly covered?
Request a no-obligation coverage review. We'll compare what you have to what you need.
Request a Coverage ReviewWhy Athens Churches Choose MinistrySure
Athens churches choose MinistrySure because we work exclusively with churches and ministries, we're authorized Brotherhood Mutual agents, both owners are Brotherhood Mutual Agents of the Year, and our 11-person team has served 700+ Georgia ministries. Our office in Loganville is about an hour from Athens, and every person on our team was hired to serve churches.
We only do ministry insurance. No commercial accounts, no personal lines. Every policy we write is for a church, school, or ministry. When you call, everyone on our team speaks your language.
Brotherhood Mutual access. As authorized Brotherhood Mutual agents, we give your church access to a carrier built specifically for ministry — including coverages like counseling liability, armed security team coverage, and mission trip insurance that standard carriers often exclude.
A dedicated advisor who knows your church. You get a person — not a call center. Your advisor knows your buildings, your programs, and your budget. When something changes, you reach the person who can help.
700+ Georgia ministries served. Both owners — Matthew and Michael Campbell — are Brotherhood Mutual Agents of the Year. Our 11-person team has served churches of every size across Georgia, including many in the Athens area.
We start with a conversation, not a sales pitch. A coverage review is a no-obligation comparison of your current insurance. We review your policies, identify gaps, and present options — with no pressure to switch.
Serving the Athens-Area Church Community
MinistrySure serves churches throughout the greater Athens area, including Athens-Clarke County, Oconee County, Barrow County, Jackson County, Madison County, and Oglethorpe County. From historic downtown Athens congregations to growing church plants in Winder and Watkinsville, we build coverage programs that fit how your ministry actually operates today.
- Athens-Clarke County — downtown Athens, east side, west side, Normaltown, Five Points, Winterville
- Oconee County — Watkinsville, Bishop, Bogart
- Barrow County — Winder, Statham, Auburn
- Jackson County — Jefferson, Commerce, Braselton
- Madison County — Danielsville, Colbert
- Oglethorpe County — Lexington, Crawford
Whether your church is a 50-member congregation in a rural Clarke County location or a 2,000-member campus near the University of Georgia, we build coverage programs that fit how your ministry actually operates.
Church Insurance in Georgia · Churches · Schools · Brotherhood Mutual · FAQ · Cost Guide