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When I was securing financing to purchase my first house, I remember being surprised when my banker asked me who would be insuring the new purchase. Insurance? What do I need that for? I was unaware that property coverage needs to be in place before banks will release funds toward the purchase of real estate.

If I remember correctly, my banker knew about MUA and was able to start me in the right direction; and after asking around I was able to identify our congregation's MUA secretary and set up a meeting with him to get coverage in place.

In case you think I should be embarrassed to relate this anecdote, let me just say that I have the courage to share it because the same thing seems to happen to many of you; namely, you are surprised to discover that your real estate purchases need to have coverage in place in order for bankers and lawyers to do the mysterious things they do to make titles change hands.

I know this because I receive phone calls and emails from policyholders who:

1. Make a deal on a piece of real estate.
2. Realize that the closing date is right around the corner and,
3. Call me at the eleventh hour about setting up coverage.

But I am not the correct person to call, hence, the title of this newsletter: you should know who your congregation's MUA secretary is.

There are some exceptions, but most policy changes need to be made by your local secretary. Especially if the change to your policy affects the policy's value, it needs to involve your secretary. No one else can authorize these changes. If the change does not affect the policy's value – such as an address change – you could perhaps contact the office directly. But it is safe to assume that the best practice is to make all change requests through your secretary.

There are several practical reasons that we operate this way. One important reason relates to how the values of such things as real estate are determined. With MUA represented in each congregation, the person responsible to sign off on the value at which your real estate is enrolled, is someone local to you and has knowledge of your local real estate market.

The local secretary is supported in his tasks by (usually) two evaluators. As their title implies, their job is to assist the secretary and policyholders in establishing property values. Their involvement is required when new policies are opened, when new real estate is enrolled, and when losses are claimed; but is not required for enrolling things like equipment and things whose values are generally easier to determine.

In effect, the three MUA representatives who make up the local committee in your congregation are the providers of your property coverage. We at the office take care of the bookkeeping and managing the policy database, and we do our best to support your local committee. (Overseeing the whole project, there are two tiers of executives, which may be explained in a future newsletter.) But in a practical sense, your property coverage is provided by your friends and neighbors; fellow church-goers whose faces and names you know and whose role is to personally provide aid when you need it.

If you're still reading, then I will conclude by repeating: you should know who your local secretary is. When you need MUA, it is his involvement you will need. Hopefully this will only be when getting that proof of coverage for your bank or lawyer. But when you suffer loss and need help, contacting him is how you get that as well.