Defendants in a lawsuit filed by the parents of a 16-year-old boy who drowned last May at a Baptist camp said they are surprised by the legal action.
“It came as quite a shock to us,” said Mike Miller, pastor of First Baptist Church, Columbiana. “This is a family that we love very dearly.”
The church is named in a lawsuit filed Jan. 19 by the parents of Terry White — Norman and Quilla White — along with the Baldwin Baptist Association and Camp Dixie.
Terry White drowned May 31 in Perdido Bay off the banks of the Lutheran-owned Camp Dixie. The youth stayed at the facility while participating in a missions trip sponsored by First Baptist Church, Columbiana, in which a team of adults and youth worked with three Baldwin County migrant camps.
The group worked with John Long, former director of missions (DOM) for Baldwin Baptist Association.
Loyd Kindiger, interim DOM for Baldwin Baptist Association, said he was also surprised by the lawsuit.
Kindiger said it was his understanding the White family accepted the drowning as an accident. He declined to comment beyond that.
The Whites are represented by Birmingham attorney S. Greg Burge.
“This group that took their child down to this camp undertook a responsibility to see that their child was supervised and that correct safety procedures were provided at this camp for his benefit and the other children’s benefit,” he said.
Miller said he first heard of the lawsuit through the media. The pastor believes the action is a “reflection of the times.”
“We live in a day and time when people don’t hesitate to sue one another and unfortunately churches are no longer immune to that,” Miller said.
White was not a member of First Baptist, Columbiana, but was involved in the church’s Challengers program, according to Miller. Challengers is the missions education organization for 10th–12th graders sponsored by the North American Mission Board.
Miller said he has not spoken to anyone from White’s family in several months, but was under the impression other church members had.
The attorney said the wrongful death case, which seeks unspecified damages, contends youth were allowed to swim in a portion of Perdido Bay that is part of Camp Dixie. “We know there were no lifeguards there and it’s our understanding that there was no adult supervision there,” Burge said.
“It’s further our understanding that there may have been a severe deficiency in having adequate resuscitative equipment available there at the camp,” Burge said.
Chris Walsh, director of Camp Dixie, declined comment.
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