![]() Due to the sheer number of possibilities and dynamic nature of risks that threaten a church, the process of risk management never ends. It is a genuine and intentional effort to care for the people, assets and property associated with the church as an organization, preventing all forms of injury and loss. Risk management is a process of identifying the risks and then determining the best way to handle those risks in a moral and legally-responsible manner. A Strategy for Managing Risk in the Local Church A failure to manage the risks that could affect the church is more than an act of ignorance: it is a dereliction of duty associated with the pastoral task. Pastors and church leaders should exhibit a similar vigilance for the spiritual and physical well-being of their human “flock” entrusted to their care. In His care, the sheep are protected against thieves, robbers, and wolves who come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy’ (John 10:10)-a clear form of risk management to minimize danger to the flock. In John 10, Jesus describes himself as a shepherd who takes care of the sheep. A single failure to conduct a criminal background check of a volunteer worker leading to the molestation of a small child can damage a church’s ability to reach families for years. Negative reports arising from the ignorance or neglect of easily identified risks will damage a church’s reputation and evangelistic impact. The church is on a mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and watching world. Without a risk management strategy, your church’s mission and witness is in danger of being damaged. Your church has no immunity from similar legal challenges anyone can sue your church. Litigation has increased dramatically in recent years, with the sexual abuse lawsuits against the Catholic Church being the most heavily publicized. If a lawsuit is filed against the church, the legal costs associated with hiring an attorney, paying court costs, and discharging a jury-awarded financial settlement can quickly outstrip the resources of a church. In the absence of risk management, the church as an organization could face serious financial and legal liability. The process of risk management involves the identification of risks and the intentional effort to reduce those risks. A “risk” represents that aspect of church-related participation, employment, volunteer service, properties, or activities that have the potential to create a moral or financial loss to the church. Risk management describes the effort to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals, groups, and property for whom the church is legally responsible. ![]() What both churches needed to do was develop and implement a liability strategy for managing risks. In the second example, the leadership exhibited a level of concern over the church’s liability that affected the ministry of the church within the local community. The youth minister I assisted was unaware and unconcerned for the risks associated with holding a youth event at the church, even if the injury that occurred was unusual or rare. Their solution was to eliminate the risk by barring use of church property by outside groups.īoth of these stories illustrate two extreme responses to the subject of church liability or risk management. They were deeply concerned about the potential exposure of the church to legal risks and liability to participants during events that were not being officially sponsored by the church. They were not opposed to evangelism, especially since the church was actively reaching unchurched individuals and families. Several business leaders and an attorney in the church did not want to adopt or implement such a policy. Years later I was working on a policy for a growing congregation that would govern the use of the church facilities by outside groups during the week. ![]() Although we were able to laugh about it later, at the time it was a frightening experience for the student and everyone around him. ![]() Rushed to a nearby emergency room, the student was finally able to get his mouth closed. As the evening unfolded, students were laughing and playing hard, until one student opened his mouth too wide to grab an apple out of the water-and his jaw locked open. One of the games involved “bobbing” for apples. While I was in college, a youth minister asked me to “fill in” for him and host a party for the students at his church.
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