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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    Upper New York Property Insurance Update

    October 8, 2024 / By Jack Keating / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    Over this past summer the Insurance Subcommittee of our Annual Conference Board of Trustees has met several times with representatives from Lightwell Insurance (formerly American Church Group) as we look at coverage and pricing options for the future of our conference-wide insurance program.   

    While the commercial insurance market continues to struggle with increased losses and pricing fluctuations, we are pleased to report that our Annual Conference insurance program continues with wonderful loss control results.  In fact, through 9/30/24 our group loss ratio stands at 10.56%!  Thanks to all our ministries and programs and the wonderful operations of our local churches and conference operations, we believe we have good news to share for premium costs in the upcoming years.        

    Brotherhood Mutual projects premium increases of 1% - 5.5% for the 2025 policy period and 2% - 8.5% for the 2026 policy period.  While these are estimates at this point, they will allow churches to build annual spending plans for 2025 budgeting purposes.   

    Brotherhood has also informed the Board of Trustees that our churches have now “outgrown” the levels and types of coverages available on their Ministry Essentials insurance program.  As a result, all our churches will be moved into their Ministry First policy plan by 2026.  In 2026 we may experience a few isolated premium cost increases that exceed the numbers mentioned above, dependent on insurance market conditions and other factors in the future.     

    In an insurance environment that continues to see the availability of insurance products and many significant insurance premium cost increases, we continue to give thanks for the efforts of so many who have helped us to maintain our insurance coverages at very reasonable premium costs.  Thanks for all you have done to keep stability in our annual conference insurance program!    


    United Methodists of Upper New York is comprised of a vibrant network of 677 local churches and active new faith communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."