Why the 45-Day Mark Is When Georgia Churches Must Act
Earlier outreach letters often arrive before carrier underwriters have finalized next year's numbers. But once your carrier packet arrives—typically 45 days before your renewal date—the actual pricing, endorsement changes, and deductibles are fixed on paper.
For Georgia churches paying $25,000 or more annually, signing the renewal invoice without reading the packet often means silently accepting increased windstorm deductibles, reduced water coverage, or restrictive warranties. Walking these eight pages takes 15 minutes and ensures your leadership makes an informed decision.
The 8 Pages to Circle in Your Renewal Packet
01
Declarations Page: Named Insureds & Effective Dates
The declarations page establishes who is covered and when. Verify that auxiliary ministries, preschools, and facilities are explicitly named.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle every named entity: confirm preschools, daycares, academies, cemeteries, or foundations are listed.
- Check policy effective and expiration dates: verify you are at least 45 days ahead of expiration.
- Confirm the physical campus addresses match your current properties and county records.
Question to ask your agent: “Are all auxiliary ministry programs, camps, and separate legal entities named on the declarations page?”
02
Statement of Values: Building Valuation & Coinsurance
Building values drive property protection. Construction costs in Georgia have shifted significantly, making valuation terms critical.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle the valuation basis next to each building: look for Replacement Cost rather than Actual Cash Value (depreciation).
- Look for coinsurance percentages (such as 80% or 90%): an unadjusted valuation triggers penalties after a claim.
- Verify whether building limits increased with an automatic inflation guard or remained unchanged.
Question to ask your agent: “Are our buildings insured for true Replacement Cost today, and does any line carry a coinsurance penalty?”
03
Deductibles: Base Property vs. Interior Water Backup
The main deductible shown on page one rarely applies to every property loss. Water damage endorsements often carry separate thresholds.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle your base property deductible ($1,000, $2,500, or $5,000).
- Flip forward to the water damage or sewer backup endorsements.
- Check if water damage or frozen pipe claims have a separate $10,000 to $25,000 deductible.
Question to ask your agent: “What is our separate deductible for interior water damage or sewer and drain backup?”
04
Wind & Hail Deductible: Dollar Figure vs. Campus Percentage
Storm deductibles in Georgia are shifting rapidly from flat dollars to percentage deductibles tied to total insured building value.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle the wind and hail deductible notation.
- If it states 1% or 2%, calculate the math: on a $5M campus, a 2% deductible equals $100,000 out-of-pocket.
- Check whether the percentage applies per building or per campus occurrence.
Question to ask your agent: “What is our exact wind/hail deductible in dollars, and is there an option to buy it down to a flat dollar figure?”
05
Abuse & Molestation: Dedicated Limit & Defense Costs
Child protection is the highest-trust ministry exposure. Abuse coverage must carry its own limit and separate legal defense funding.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle the abuse and misconduct limit line on the schedule.
- Check if defense costs are paid inside or outside the limit: inside means attorney fees diminish the coverage dollar-for-dollar.
- Verify that coverage is not capped with a severe $50,000 or $100,000 sub-limit.
Question to ask your agent: “Does our sexual misconduct coverage carry its own dedicated limit, and are legal defense costs paid outside that limit?”
06
Pastoral Counseling Liability: Staff & Clergy Protection
Pastors and lay leaders regularly provide counseling. Ministerial counseling liability protects spiritual guidance and confidential conversations.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle pastoral counseling or spiritual counseling liability.
- Confirm whether defense coverage is provided for allegations arising from counseling sessions.
- Verify whether coverage extends to associate pastors, lay counselors, and elders.
Question to ask your agent: “Are pastoral counseling activities explicitly covered for all staff pastors and lay ministers?”
07
Umbrella / Excess Liability: Underlying Schedule Attachment
An umbrella policy provides excess limits over primary liability policies, but only over the lines listed on its underlying schedule.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle your umbrella policy limit ($1M, $2M, $5M+).
- Inspect the Schedule of Underlying Insurance on the umbrella form.
- Confirm whether the umbrella covers general liability, abuse liability, commercial auto, and employer liability.
Question to ask your agent: “Does our umbrella policy sit directly over our abuse coverage, hired/non-owned auto, and pastoral counseling?”
08
Exclusions & Subjectivities: Binding Conditions & Warranties
Renewal packets frequently introduce new subjectivities—mandatory conditions your ministry must meet before coverage binds.
What to Circle in the Packet:
- Circle any page titled "Subjectivities", "Conditions Precedent", or "Warranties".
- Look for restrictions on 15-passenger vans, roof maintenance certifications, or background check requirements.
- Note any exclusion endorsements for athletic participants, bounce houses, or cyber wire fraud.
Question to ask your agent: “Are there any new exclusions, subjectivities, or warranty conditions attached to this renewal packet?”
Independent Second Read
Want a specialist to review your packet before you sign?
Send this year's renewal packet or declarations page directly to coveragereview@ministrysure.com, or continue to our coverage review form. If your policy is fine, we will tell you that and step aside. If there are critical gaps or inflated storm deductibles, you will have the facts in writing.
