Why We're Mutual

At Brotherhood Mutual, protecting your ministry is more than a job—it’s a commitment. Brotherhood Mutual was formed 100 years ago as a mutual aid association, designed by a small group of Mennonite churches to protect fellow Christians from property damages caused by fires and storms.

Although the company has grown substantially since its early years, we still hold true to that same commitment today.

What Does it Mean to be a Mutual Insurance Company?

A mutual insurance company is not owned by shareholders, but rather by policyholders—the churches and ministries they serve. Insurance premium dollars go into a policy reserve fund, and that money is used to protect and rebuild ministries after they've suffered a loss.

Policyholders have a vote in the Board of Directors elections and share in any annual dividends that are declared. As a result, they have the right to expect that their insurance provider’s highest priority is to safeguard their interests.

At Brotherhood Mutual, we hold ourselves accountable to our policyholders, and the promise that we’ll be here for them when they need us most.

Upholding a Commitment

One of Brotherhood Mutual’s biggest challenges as a mutual insurance company came with the 1965 Palm Sunday tornadoes, which swept through northern Indiana, destroying homes, businesses, and churches —many of them belonging to Brotherhood Mutual policyholders.

The relatively young company sustained more than $1 million in losses from customer claims at a time when the policy reserve fund was only slightly more than total claim losses. Even so, company leaders and board members resolved to pay each loss as promptly as possible and impose no rate increases.

A Secure Future

Today, Brotherhood Mutual insures more than 55,000 churches and related ministries and offers its property and liability coverages in 46 states and the District of Columbia.

The intentions of the company’s founders live on in an organization that still cares about protecting its customers from fires and storms—and much more.