Too Risky

[Daniel]

http://www.towleroad.com/2007/09/insurance-co-ga.html


Insurance Co: Gay-Friendly Church a "Higher Risk" Property
A branch of The United Church of Christ in Adrian, Michigan was recently solicited by an insurance company, asking if they wanted an insurance quote. The church replied "yes" but the insurance company, Brotherhood Mutual, then refused to give it to them after learning about their gay-friendly policies.

The UCC reports:

"Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, based in Fort Wayne, Ind., told West Adrian United Church of Christ in Adrian, Mich., that its denomination's gay-affirming stances made it a 'higher risk' for property and liability insurance. 'Our company's decision to not submit a quote to your organization arose out of information that was supplied in a supplemental application, indicating that your organization 'publicly endorses or practices the marriage of same-sex couples' and 'publicly endorses or practices the ordination of the homosexual clergy,'' wrote Marci J. Fretz, a regional underwriter for Brotherhood Mutual, in a July 30 letter to the church. Ironically, the church was fully insured by another company, and happily so, but was sought out by a local agent of Brotherhood Mutual who asked to provide the church a quote and then, subsequently, refused to do so."

You may remember, United Church of Christ produced the much-publicized "Ejector Seat" and "Bouncer" ads promoting their openness to accepting people of all races and sexual orientations to their denomination.

The link has a download of the letter sent by Brotherhood Mutual.

[keltic63]

I downloaded the letter from Brotherhood Mutual. It says:


Based on national media reports, contrversial 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.


I'm bothered that the decision to reject the church's application for insurance was based on "national media reports." It wasn't based on evidence, statistics, research, etc. merely national media reports, with no way of determining how often church property is damaged as a direct result of "controversial positions."

Letters and emails to Brotherhood??? letters and emails to the UCC in West Adrian thanking them for their support?

[NathanATX]

Actually, a complaint to the Indiana & Michigan Dept.s of Insurance is in order.

I have the forms and now I'm researching Michigan & Indiana's insurance code.

I'll post my final complaint letter here, as well as send it to the media, the Governor of Michigan & Indiana, etc.

[NathanATX]

(Sent to the regulatory agencies in Michigan and Indiana, the ACLU, 365gay.com, the UCC headquarters, and a member of Brotherhood's board.)

To Whom it May Concern:

I am requesting a formal investigation into the
business practices of Brotherhood Mutual Insurance
Company.

In their publicized
(http://www.ucc.org/news/pdf/brotherhood-ltr-2.pdf)
withdrawal of an offer to provide a quote to West
Adrian United Church of Christ in Adrian, Michigan,
Brotherhood Mutual is in violation of Michigan's
Insurance code in the following area:

338.41 “Good moral character” and “principal
department” defined.
Sec. 1.
(1) The phrase “good moral character”, or words of
similar import, when used as a requirement for an
occupational or professional license or when used as a
requirement to establish or operate an organization or
facility regulated by this state in the Michigan
Compiled Laws or administrative rules promulgated
under those laws shall be construed to mean the
propensity on the part of the person to serve the
public in the licensed area in a fair, honest, and
open manner.

Brotherhood Mutual did not serve West Adrian UCC in a
"fair, honest, and open manner."

To highlight how absurdly unfair, dishonest and
secretive this action was, please consider the
following statement in letter Brotherhood sent to West
Adrian UCC:

"Based on national media reports, contrversial 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."

Please consider this letter a formal open records
request. I want to know how many other churches have
been denied a quote or coverage by Brotherhood Mutual
for these reasons. I want to know all of the
complaints, violations and enforcement actions taken
against Brotherhood Mutual. I would like copies of
the aforementioned "national media reports and
controversial stances" that have resulted in property
damage and increased litigation. I want to have
evidence that said reports/"stances" were linked to
said property damage and litigation. I want evidence
that Brotherhood applies this policy to across the
board to ALL churches, companies, organizations which
request insurance quotes and/or coverage.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Please comply with this request according to the
Federal Freedom of Information Act.

Sincerely,

Nathan Black

[sailaway58]

You'll get nowhere with these people. Ultra conservative. Ultra fundamentalist