The Reality of Church Risk – Headlines We Never Want to See

Below are some headlines that deal with churches that are facing tragedy.  I originally  compiled these, not for my church clients, but for my daughter.  She is 13 years old, knows everything and is getting ready to go to church camp next week.  I wanted to give her a reality check – to let her know that bad things happen even at church functions and that she needs to listen and obey her counselors.

I’m sharing this with you for a couple of reasons.  One, these headlines answer THE most frequently asked question I get from my church clients (outside of premium questions): “Why is the insurance company making us _______ (screen volunteers/ limit our drivers age to 25 or higher/remove a trailer hitch on the van/etc.)?”  Answer: They require the things they do because, every day, they see the bad things that happen to the people that are the church.  However, they don’t have to read the newspaper, they just read their claim reports.

But, most importantly, it is to remind you that, while liability insurance is important, it will only do so much.  You must stay vigilant when it comes to selecting leaders, developing and sticking to procedures, maintaining your facilities, and protecting your people… your church.

2008-09 Church Headlines

Lightning strike kills 1, injures 18 in Florida

Bolt struck near church function to celebrate Fourth of July

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31740134/ns/us_news-life/
http://www.theledger.com/article/20090705/NEWS/907055055#

Church bus crashes; 1 killed, 6 in hospital

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30874

5 Missouri children drown during church outing

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/07/10/missouri-drowning.html

Pomona Crash’s Sole Survivor In Stable Condition

60 Freeway Crash Kills 4 Young Members Of ______ Church

http://cbs2.com/local/Pomona.Freeway.Crash.2.697809.html

______ _______ Baptist mourns death of teen at Six Flags

http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/22702999.html

Texas Man Convicted Of Sexual Assault Of Child During Church Outing

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/13838442.html

Girl on church outing swept into Niagara Falls river

Swollen river kills counselor, teenager

Members of a Maple Grove church group, were sucked into the Temperance River.

“The tragedy occurred as the group of three adults and five kids from the ______ __ ___ ____ ____ in Maple Grove wrapped up a day hike to Carlton Peak, said Sheriff Mark Falk. The hikers had waded into a pool above the gorge to rinse off.”

http://www.startribune.com/local/50033997.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUeyD8_o8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs