Policy prompts protest

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Local church members are riled up regarding regional parks' policy on religious activities

By JESSICA ALLEN

Date published: 5/27/2004

Can parks ban river baptisms?

When the Rev. Todd Pyle decided to baptize some of his church members in the Rappahannock River last weekend, he didn't think he was violating any rules.

But afterward, Pyle, senior pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Stafford County, said Falmouth Waterfront Park officials told him that river baptisms are against the Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority's policy.

"If it's the park policy, we will abide by it," Pyle said this week.

Some who heard about the controversy say the rule may be illegal and a form of religious discrimination.

"You can't treat religious expression in a public park any different from any other kinds of expression," said Kent Willis, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia in Richmond.

Park Authority Manager Brian Robinson, who approached Pyle after Sunday's baptisms, said the agency doesn't discourage religious activities.

He said religious services, political rallies and private companies that use the authority's four parks must confine their activities to a reserved shelter or room so they do not interfere with other park patrons.

Active church services, such as baptisms and revivals, or anything that "takes on a public persona that others would take offense or object to," are not allowed in the common areas of the parks, Robinson said.

"We don't have a problem with providing shelters, but we don't want others to feel forced to endure someone else's religion," he said.

In addition to Falmouth Waterfront Park, the regional authority oversees St. Clair Brooks Park and Pratt Park in southern Stafford and Old Mill Park in the city.

Park officials have had situations in the past where groups came in, set up tents and loud speakers for revivals and tried to promote their particular message to others, he said.

Members of Cornerstone Baptist, who didn't inform park officials before the baptisms, were passing out literature Sunday, Robinson said.

But the policy, which is not in writing, prompted debate last night during an emergency meeting of the Park Authority board.

The Rev. Pat Mahoney, a Spotsylvania County resident who heads the Christian Defense Coalition, attended the meeting and told board members the policy clearly violates the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Some board members were confused about the policy.

Date published: 5/27/2004