Q&A With Eric Spacek: Pokémon Go and Your Church

A church is often viewed as a safe haven. Not only by the congregation members, staff and volunteers, but by the community it’s a part of.  However, today’s reality proves that shootings and violent outbreaks are more commonplace and churches aren’t excluded from them. Most recently, the Antioch, Tennessee, church shooting that occurred on Sunday, Sept.

For the first time since 1979, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017, meaning that the moon will completely cover the sun for a period of time that day. While everyone in the contiguous U.S.

On June 26, 2017, the United States Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of a Missouri church daycare center in their dispute with the state over the availability of state grant funds to replace the surfacing of their playground. While the facts of the case involved a playground, it was about much more. As one Supreme Court justice wrote: “This case is about nothing less than the relationship between religi

Last Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order concerning religious liberty and free speech. In it, the president established the policy of the executive branch “to vigorously enforce Federal law’s robust protections for religious freedom” and provided direction to executive department agencies and offices in two main areas:  

This past weekend, two churches in Egypt were bombed during Palm Sunday services. The bombings killed more than 40 people and injured more than 100. Although these tragic incidents took place thousands of miles away, they serve as an important reminder of the ever-relevant threat of terrorism by violent extremists, and why it’s important to take this issue seriously.

GuideOne sends thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by last week’s fatal auto accident that involved members of First Baptist Church of New Braunfels, Texas.

The beginning of the year is a time to look forward and anticipate the trends we’re likely to see as we move into 2017. When it comes to safety and risk management issues for churches, here are six trends that my team and I forecast for the coming year, plus some pointers for protecting your place of worship.

1. Avoidable Incidents

A new trend has hit the streets, literally. Pokémon Go, a new game for iOS and Android devices was released in early July 2016. Developed around the Pokémon card game, this new game allows players to walk around town with a mobile device and catch Pokémon near them using the device’s camera. 

One of the most common activities at church camp is having a campfire. Many activities take place around a campfire, including singing, telling stories and roasting marshmallows on sticks to make s’mores.

Consider the following facts from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

The 2016 Presidential Election is in full swing with just under five months until Election Day on November 8, 2016. These months leading up to the election are crucial for campaigning and many organizations are asked to get involved. However, churches must be careful of the activities they participate in to avoid trouble. 

The June 2016 mass shooting in Orlando, FL, has raised awareness about the threat of terrorism by violent extremists. The Department of Homeland Security defines these individuals as those “who support or commit ideologically-motivated violence to further political goals.”

Churches face many risks that can potentially result in an insurance claim. While some of these risks may be easily prevented, others can be more difficult.  It is important for church leaders to be aware of the potential insurance risks their church may face. Having this knowledge can help prevent a potential claim in the future.  

Under a new Department of Labor (DOL) rule announced by the White House on May 18, 2016, updated regulations on overtime pay will go into effect on December 1, 2016.  

With summer quickly approaching, it’s time for your organization to start thinking about their summer road trips. Trying to plan a road trip with multiple people can be difficult to do.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry.” This saying holds especially true when it comes to screening employees and volunteers who work with kids and youth in Vacation Bible School, Sunday school and other youth-focused events and activities at church. Protecting children should be a number-one priority.

Is your organization’s transportation policy up-to-speed? Are the proper procedures in place to keep members and volunteers safe and secure?

Find out by answering “Yes” or “No” to the following questions:

An overloaded electrical outlet is more common than you might think. While it’s easy and inexpensive to find quick electrical solutions when your facility is in a pinch, oftentimes, these practices put your organization at risk and tend to become tong-term solutions.

Whether you’re a church that’s long established, or a new church gathering members and finding a place to worship, having a Risk Management Team oversee the safety and security of your church is important.

So far, we have offered you insight on event planning details and marketing efforts to help ensur

What is summer camp without swimming and a pool?  The one thing camp kids can count on is the large amount of time they’ll spend in the water.

Going to camp, a kid may have a long list of things they are excited for – friends, fun activities or good memories.  When it’s time to leave camp and head home, the last thing you want your campers to leave with are injuries.

Of the numerous activities organizations have planned this summer, many will likely be hosting camp sessions.  Ranging from one day to weeks of entertainment, camps serve as a fun highlight during a child’s summer. 

A church is often viewed as a safe haven.  Not only by the congregation members, staff and volunteers, but by the community it’s a part of.  However, today’s reality proves that shootings and violent outbreaks are more commonplace and churches aren’t excluded from that.  Most recently, the

Your ministry is important to you, and there’s a lot to be done in order to protect it.  Beyond your day-to-day tasks to ensure its safety, having insurance to safeguard your organization from severe loss is critical.  But how do you make sure you’re getting the right policy, working with the best company or covering all of the needs of your organization?

The heat of the summer means the height of wedding season.  You may find your church hosting multiple weddings throughout the year, and while these events are a celebration of marriage filled with good times, they also create risky situations that could lead to an insurance claim. 

National Arson Awareness Week, sponsored by the U.S. Fire Administration runs May 3 to 9 this year, and helps spread the word about arson prevention and youth fire setting.

Easter is one of the busiest days on the church calendar, and with the holiday just a few short days away, now is a good time to begin preparations if you haven’t already done so.

It’s one of the headlines in the news right now.  Measles.  Once reported as eliminated from the United States, less than 60 days into the year, the disease now has reached 141 confirmed cases.   If you think the outbreak won’t affect your church, you may be surprised to learn that a

Criminal background checks are an important part of screening the workers and volunteers who assist with the children and youth in your church.

Among the questions that the GuideOne Center for Risk Management fields regarding background checks, the following three are among the most commonly asked:

The countdown is on. The teams have been decided.  The viewing party has been planned.  It’s Super Bowl time.

Did you know you could have your organization’s tax-exempt status revoked for violating the current regulations surrounding your involvement in political campaigns?  Being that it’s an election year, whether you answered yes or no, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of what can and cannot be done.