Expert: Charles W. Field - 4/15/2004

Question
Mr. Field,
I am a youth pastor in Indiana (I understand your practice is in Georgia) and am also a member of our district officers cabinet.  Currently we are in the development stages of an online registration system for our camping program.  The way the program is developed each youth pastor will register his or her youth group to each event (group style registration).  Our dilema is how can we facilitate medical releases, and release of liablity?  Any suggestions?

Thank you

Jason Denniston
Fairmount Wesleyan Church

Answer
I would think that something like "We, John and Jane Doe, parents, and Jack Doe, child, acknowledge the potential dangers in camping and hereby release and hold harmless the XYZ program from liability for any injuries sustained by the child." Then you could have a box that the parents would have to click (much like the "Terms of Usage" required at some websites, whereby unless the user clicks "Accept" he/she can't go any further). However, I would run your question by an Indiana attorney, since the laws on this may vary from state to state.