The Philadelphia Church of God is getting ready to hold their yearly Summer "Educational" Program (SEP...how original) on their cult compound in Edmond Oklahoma. Horror stories circulate widely on Facebook from former attendees who were forced to participate in outdoor activities in high heat and extreme humidity and were ridiculed when they fell ill and many times were denied much-needed medical assistance.
As you will see below, parents are expected to sign away their children's lives because PCG admits that the "risk of injury is significant including permanent disability and death"! So much for outgoing godly love towards its potential future tithe payers!
PCG is also forcing parents to waive all rights to sue the church if their child is injured to dies AND they will keep that notarized statement on file for 7 years or longer.
Jason Cocomise mailed a letter with 4 PDF documents for those who will be attending Philadelphia Church of God Summer Educational Program aka SEP (formerly called Philadelphia Youth Camp or PYC) to sign. To attend camp it will cost $350 per camper. The documents contain many questions parents must answer and a multitude of rules they agree to follow. Here is some of it:
They must fill in their travel plans to camp and from camp with the airline, flight number, arrival or departure date (to and from Oklahoma City). If they aren’t traveling by airplane to camp, or are coming in early, they must explain their travel arrangements (i.e., who they will be traveling with, who is driving, estimated time of departure, etc.). They must explain the same thing for departure from camp.
There also is a Medical Consent for Rendering of Medical Services that must be signed and notarized.
Then there is a Minor Waiver/Release which says that the risk of injury to your child from the activities is significant including permanent disability and death. When you sign you are saying that you will freely assume all such risks. Signing this paper is to “release and hold harmless the Philadelphia Church of God Summer Educational Program, (goes on to include directors, employees, volunteers, etc.) with respect to any and all injury, disability, death,” etc.
The signed waiver/release “will be kept on file by the SEP for at least 7 years or possibly longer if the participant has been involved in a serious injury.”
The participant and the parent/guardian must also sign the S.E.P. Release and Acknowledgment of S.E.P. Standards which is a covenant not to sue and to release and hold harmless PCG from and against claims or suits, resulting from personal injuries and bodily injuries, etc. The “S.E.P. Standards” at end of this document covers the “high standards of personal conduct. These standards include rules against intoxication or possession of intoxicants, sexual misconduct, use or possession of illegal drugs, stealing, smoking, disorderly conduct, intentional destruction of property, refusal to cooperate with Church or S.E.P. counselors, chaperons or helpers or any conduct or attitudes not in keeping with God’s law and beliefs of the Church. Applicants and chaperons will also be expected to maintain high standards of dress and grooming.”
The rules are endless and much of it is in all caps to make sure you understand. –Oklahoma [name withheld] Exit and Support Network
