Posted on Oct 31, 2008 | by Roy Hayhurst

DALLAS (BP)--This fall, many Southern Baptist churches and ministries will have access to property and casualty insurance and risk management services from GuideStone Agency Services. The GuideStone Property & Casualty (P&C) Program will gradually roll out regionally over the next year.

The program offers churches property, general liability, workers compensation and auto insurance. Specialty coverages such as abuse and molestation, directors and officers liability, and pastoral counseling also are available. Insured churches have access to risk management services which include educational seminars and programs on risk evaluation, tools to help reduce risk and preferred pricing from a vendor that provides volunteer background checks.

"This is a highly customized insurance program," said Douglas D. Day, GuideStone executive officer who is giving leadership to GuideStone Agency Services. "This program is designed specifically to meet the needs of Southern Baptist churches and ministries. And we're proud that we can bring them not only affordable insurance coverage but comprehensive educational materials and risk management tools.

"We want our churches to be able to protect everything from their people and their physical property to their intangible assets."

As church and ministry staffs stay busier than ever serving their growing, diverse communities, GuideStone continues to support them, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins noted.

"Churches tell us that property and casualty insurance has become much more complex over the last few years," Hawkins said. "Through this new P&C program, we will be able to provide not only the coverage our churches and ministries need, but also provide them with helpful information that might help them mitigate their need to utilize that coverage.

"We trust this new service will be another opportunity for GuideStone, through its insurance agency affiliate, to partner with our Southern Baptist churches and ministries," Hawkins said. "Our goal is to help churches be the best stewards of their resources so they can focus on their calling and mission."
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Roy Hayhurst is the senior marketing communications editor for GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For specific information, please call 1-888-98-GUIDE (1-888-984-8433).