Church Mutual Fact Sheet
Church Mutual Insurance Company 3000 Schuster Lane P.O. Box 357 Merrill, Wisconsin 54452 Click here to see photos of our Home Office  Main telephone numbers
History Church Mutual was founded on March 4, 1897, by two Lutheran pastors and eight laymen from two Merrill congregations. The company's first policy was written on June 3 of that year. For 111 years, Church Mutual has specialized in insurance for religious organizations. Our market also includes religious related schools, camps, denominational offices, and senior living facilities. Our customers now number more than 97,000 religious institutions of all denominations and about 10,000 homeowners/tenants (mostly clergy). Church Mutual markets most lines of commercial property and liability insurance, including multiple-peril, workers' compensation, and commercial auto insurance. We do not offer life or health insurance. Church Mutual sold its policies almost exclusively by direct mail until 1954, at which time the first field sales person was hired. Today, no sales are made through the mail. Approximately 81% of our premium volume is generated by 170 full-time regional representatives working out of 40 offices. The remaining 19% is generated by independent agents who specialize in church insurance and represent us in all or part of 13 states. Click here to read about Church Mutual's history Market Area Church Mutual operates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Church Mutual insures more religious institutions than any other company in the United States. Leadership Only seven individuals have served as president of Church Mutual Insurance Company and just three of them held the position on a full-time basis. Gerald Whitburn, the current president, took office January 1, 2000. Dieter H. Nickel served as president from 1971 through 1999. Walter W. Schuster was Church Mutual's president from 1951-1971. Financial Church Mutual is a mutual insurance company. This means that we are owned by our customers. We are not affiliated with any denomination or other organization. For 56 consecutive years, Church Mutual has received the A+ (Superior) rating from A.M. Best Company, the nationally respected insurance industry analyst. To put this in perspective, only 7 percent of commercial lines property and casualty insurance companies have a rating this solid. Church Mutual has been named to the Ward's 50 Benchmark Group for eight consecutive years. The Ward's list recognizes the 50 companies that have excelled at balancing safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period. At year-end 2007, Church Mutual assets were $1.18 billion; Policyholders' Security Fund (surplus) was $389.4 million; and annual premium volume was $579.6 million. Employment As of February 29, 2008, Church Mutual's employment numbered 858. Of these, 614 are employed at the Home Office in Merrill and 244 are located in offices throughout the country. See job postings |