House of worship leaders want to know how they should best spend their often-limited funds. Insurers can help their customers understand the risks and benefits of upgrading their facilities. (Photo: Cosmic Timetraveler/Unsplash)
As we dive headfirst into 2023, the following are five major trends for houses of worship that we are likely to see over the next year.
No. 1: Reviver statutes are creating more avenues for sexual abuse claims.
Simply put, a reviver statute is state legislation that allows adult survivors of childhood abuse to bring forward civil claims after the statute of limitations has passed. For organizations like houses of worship in which adults interact with children, this opens up a bigger category of sexual abuse claims. Underwriters will want to take great care in how they word policies, and make sure limitations are appropriately adjusted.
No. 2: Smart buildings provide older houses of worship with more opportunities.
Many ornate structures with original electrical, plumbing and other building systems are rapidly deteriorating. House of worship leaders want to know how they should best spend their often-limited funds. Insurers can help their customers understand the risks and benefits of upgrading their facilities. They also may be able to introduce these congregations to the concept of smart buildings — technology that can help them monitor hazards like standing water, intruders and other incidents such as a visitor falling on ice or snow.
No. 3: The need for cybersecurity has increased.
Shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic turned online worship into the norm, not the exception. But even as congregations began to resume in-person worship, their members appealed to keep some services online. That means houses of worship have become much more vulnerable to cyberattacks and network problems.
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