Do Church General Liability Policies Cover Armed Volunteers?

Host Ron Wadley continues a church safety series by warning Texas churches about firearms exclusions hidden in standard commercial general liability policies. He recounts a scenario at a mid-sized Abilene church where a licensed volunteer security team member’s handgun accidentally discharged in the parking lot, damaging a visiting family’s minivan. The church’s claim was denied because the policy excluded firearms used by non-law-enforcement personnel. Wadley explains that CGL coverage is built for common accidents like slips and falls, not injuries from weapon discharges. He contrasts armed volunteers with off-duty police or licensed security and urges churches to discuss armed security openly with knowledgeable agents and add specific endorsements. Connect with our church insurance team at insurancefortexans.com Get your free copy of our book, The Promise of Certainty, at thepromiseofcertainty.com 00:00 Show Introduction 00:26 Firearms Exclusion Explained 00:38 Abilene Parking Lot Incident 02:00 Claim Denied Reality Check 03:10 Why Standard Liability Fails 04:04 Volunteers vs Professionals 04:51 How To Get Covered 05:29 Call To Action And Wrap Up