A market guide for independent insurance agents. Last reviewed: June 2026.
The church specialty market is in the middle of a genuine shake-up, and Texas wind/hail is at the center of it. Church Mutual (A, negative outlook) dropped over 1,000 Texas churches heading into 2024 and, per Texas retail specialists, often re-enters for liability only. Brotherhood Mutual was downgraded to B++ in April 2024, with TX fire/allied rates up 30.6% for 2024. GuideOne stabilized at A-/stable after Bain Capital's $200M infusion (creating The Mutual Group) but quit writing wind/hail in parts of West Texas. Southern Mutual Church withdrew from AM Best ratings entirely.
Displaced accounts are flowing to commercial specialty carriers (Great American, PHLY), the Glatfelter Ministry Care program on AIG paper, GuideStone for SBC/evangelical ministries — and to E&S property (Lloyd's, Scottsdale) for older roofs in hail zones, often paired with separate admitted liability.
Markets identified through editorial research (June 2026) and agent placement discussions. Items marked "verify" carry details we could not confirm at the primary source.
| Market / Program | Type | How Agents Access It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glatfelter Ministry Care (AIG paper) | MGA program | Independent agents, 49 states | Explicitly writing the older buildings and complex risks the mutuals are shedding. |
| Great American (Specialty Human Services) | Admitted (A+) | Independent agents | Dedicated church package: property, GL, abuse/molestation, professional, auto. |
| Philadelphia Insurance (PHLY) | Admitted (A++) | Independent agents | Religious-organizations package. |
| GuideStone (Brotherhood Mutual paper) | Program | Program submission | Southern Baptist and evangelical ministries — churches, schools, camps. |
| GuideOne / The Mutual Group | Admitted mutual (A-, stable) | Appointed agents | Stabilized post-Bain but capacity-constrained; wind/hail withdrawn in some West Texas territories. |
| Church Mutual | Admitted (A, negative outlook) | Direct + agents | Largest church writer but shed 1,000+ TX accounts; TX re-entry often liability-only. |
| Brotherhood Mutual | Admitted mutual (B++) | Exclusive agents | Downgraded April 2024; new wind/hail deductibles and +30.6% TX fire/allied rates in 2024. |
| AmTrust / USLI / Nationwide / Hanover / Chubb | Admitted | Appointed agents | Selectively absorbing displaced church accounts; expect slow timelines and capacity limits. |
| Lloyd's / Scottsdale (E&S property) | E&S | Wholesalers | The route for TX hail-zone churches with older roofs — E&S property paired with separate admitted liability. |
Real placement discussions from independent agents about church & nonprofit insurance.
Specialty church mutuals are de-risking Texas wind/hail exposure at the portfolio level. Church Mutual dropped 1,000+ TX churches and GuideOne pulled wind/hail in parts of West Texas — it is about the peril, not the account.
Realistically E&S property (Lloyd's syndicates, Scottsdale via your wholesaler) paired with admitted liability — or Glatfelter, which explicitly targets older/complex church buildings on AIG paper.
Mixed: Church Mutual is A (negative outlook, March 2025), Brotherhood Mutual B++ (downgraded April 2024), GuideOne A- stable after Bain's investment, Southern Mutual Church withdrew from ratings (Oct 2024). Factor ratings into placement advice.