Texas Baptists leaders highlighted the launch of a new statewide insurance solution during a luncheon presentation of the Texas Baptists Indemnity Program—known as TBIP—and its partnership with KingsCover Insurance.
The event included detailed explanation of how the program aims to meet the growing insurance needs of churches.
The program was created to offer churches a more sustainable and affordable alternative amid rising premiums across the state, Craig Christina, associate executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president and board chair of TBIP, said.
“Our original vision was caring for BGCT churches in Texas and taking a few hundred the first year and adding more, but God had a much bigger plan,” Christina said.
KingsCover leaders John Uminski, senior vice president of KingsCover, and Michael Conover, head of underwriting, described the structure of the new partnership.
The program launched Nov. 1 and is backed by $12 million in available capital from the BGCT, along with national-level underwriting support through Amherst Specialty Insurance.
This allows the program to scale from its initial vision of serving a few hundred churches to potentially serving congregations nationwide.
KingsCover emphasized the program uses licensed agents who respond to inquiries, rather than earning commissions by soliciting churches.
To date, leaders have promoted the program through 30 to 40 associational meetings.
They also highlighted features such as automatically included pastoral library coverage and a managed-repair claims model designed to provide fast, hassle-free service.
Christina and Ward Hayes, Texas Baptists’ chief financial officer, encouraged churches to begin the application process early, noting quotes typically require declaration pages, loss runs and basic property information.
KingsCover representatives assured pastors both BGCT and Southern Baptists of Texas churches are eligible, and priority will be given to churches currently uninsured or nearing renewal deadlines.
TBIP leadership
The BGCT associate executive director is president and board chair of TBIP, and the BGCT chief financial officer is treasurer and secretary. Currently, this is Craig Christina and Ward Hayes, respectively. Sergio Ramos, Texas Baptists’ director of GC2 network, is vice president.
David Bowman, executive director of the Tarrant Baptist Association in Fort Worth, and Dennis Young, pastor of Missouri City Baptist Church, were elected as directors by the BGCT Executive Board.
Q&A regarding coverage
KingsCover is a full-service brokerage with the capability of providing full coverage for churches, Uminski said when answering a question about coverage options.
“Our first and foremost priority is protecting your church,” Uminski said. “We are concentrated on bringing you a property solution and a general liability solution. That being said, those other things—commercial auto, wind and storm insurance—we can handle that.”
One pastor asked how long a quote for an estimate was good for, and how soon would a church need to reach out to request a quote before their present coverage lapses.
“Ideally, we would like to get you in front of your policy 30 to 45 days in advance prior to renewal. It might take us 15 to 20 days to get all the information we need, and you provide [documentation]. Our quotes are good for 30 days,” Uminski said.
KingsCover representatives added that BGCT affiliated churches outside of Texas are also included in the coverage.
One ministry leader asked about their stand-alone liability versus stand-alone property. KingsCover will not write stand-alone liability, but only stand-alone property.
“We are going to individually underwrite every property, which not every carrier does,” Uminski said.
Churches interested in getting a quote can contact KingsCover Insurance at info@kingscover.com.
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