Arrest blows insurance cover for pastor, closes church doors

Move over death threats, public ridicule and scorn, and criminal charges, it’s the cancellation of insurance coverage that finally shuttered doors to a church in Florida in light of coronavirus shutdowns.

Rodney Howard-Browne, the pastor of River at Tampa Bay Church who was arrested for holding services during the coronavirus pandemic, said he will not open his megachurch until the crisis has passed over fear of his congregation’s safety and to protect them from “government tyranny,” according to an article in the Orlando Weekly.

However, it was reported that his lawyer pegged the closure on something more official, according to the article. 

Speaking in a Facebook Live video Thursday, Rev. Howard-Browne’s counsel admitted that the arrest of his client caused the evangelical pastor’s insurance to be canceled, which spurred the closure, the Orlando Weekly reported.

More insurance and risk management news on the coronavirus crisis here.