Source: BloggingStocks.com, ChristianityToday.com
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co., a major insurer of churches all over the country, has denied coverage to Michigan's West Adrian United Church of Christ, citing the national governing body of the church's support of gay marriage and ordination for gay ministers.
"Based on national media reports, controversial stances such as those indicated in your application responses have resulted in property damage and the potential for increased litigation among churches that have chosen to publicly endorse these positions," the insurer wrote to the church.
The church's pastor says he knows of no acts of, or even threats of, violence against the church. The church is actually among those that declined to support a resolution by its governing body affirming gay rights.
The church was able to obtain coverage with Safeco, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
Founded in 1917 as a mutual-aid organization by evangelical Mennonites, Brotherhood Mutual is now the largest provider of insurance to churches in the country.
Brotherhood Mutual spokesman Mitzi Thomas to the Journal that the company, "didn't have any examples of violence attributable to a church's support for gay clergy or same-sex marriage." She said she "wasn't aware of other churches Brotherhood Mutual turned down because of positions on gay clergy or marriage, but the insurer has rejected churches because of other controversial positions."
Thomas noted, however, that disputes over gay marriage have led to church splits and resulted in costly lawsuits.
Michigan banned same-sex marriage in 2004. West Adrian UCC has not specifically endorsed the denomination's position on same-sex marriage and ordination of homosexuals. The article says that as long as insurance companies abide by non-discrimination and other laws, they are free to set their own guidelines for accepting or rejecting applications.
Full article: Church denied insurance over gay marriage stance - BloggingStocks
Brotherhood Mutual Denies Insurance to Pro-Gay Church | ChristianityToday.com