A Parksville church is being sued by a Surrey woman who alleges a former church youth leader had a sexual relationship with her when she was 15.
Brenda Tombs filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court alleging psychological, spiritual, and sexual grooming, abuse and exploitation by Charles Aiken when she was a youth group member in 1985 and 1986 at Parksville Fellowship Baptist Church, known as Parksville Regular Baptist Church at the time.
The claim alleges Aiken demonstrated manipulative behaviour and used his role as youth group leader to gain Tombs’ faith, confidence and trust, with the aim of exploiting it for his sexual benefit. Aiken was 26 years old at the time of the alleged offenses, according to the court document.
The church’s youth group organized activities including late-night parties, jam sessions at the Church’s premises, out-of-town concerts, overnight ski-trips and overnight trips to a sister church in the Lower Mainland.
Aiken’s wife discovered the abuse in July 1986 and around this time the church’s elders and administrators were made aware of the allegations, according to the document. The claim also states that Tombs was victim-blamed and socially ostracized after the abuse was disclosed to the church and broader community.
“At all material times the Church was complicit in an operational culture that enabled sexual predators, including but not limited to Aiken, to groom and sexually exploit vulnerable youth,” the document said.
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Tombs’ claim lists numerous injuries including spiritual trauma, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive symptoms, substance abuse, sleep disturbance and an inability of have a stable family and bear children, as a result of Aiken’s alleged conduct.
Someone who answered the phone at the church identified himself as Paul, and as one of the church’s pastors, said the church would not comment at this time because the case is before the courts.
Tombs is suing the church, Aiken and the trustees of the Parksville Regular Baptist Church.
The allegations have not been tested in court.
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