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Parks will not block baptism

Church will be allowed to baptize member at Falmouth Waterfront Park on Sunday

By MICHAEL ZITZ

Date published: 6/3/2004

By MICHAEL ZITZ River use still discouraged

Fredericksburg-Stafford Park Authority officials say they won't interfere with the baptism of a mentally retarded man at Falmouth Waterfront Park planned for Sunday afternoon.

A bit of a national media flap arose after a dozen members of Cornerstone Baptist Church near Berea were baptized May 23 in the Rappahannock River as 50 congregation members looked on.

Park officials admonished Cornerstone's pastor, the Rev. Todd Pyle that day and told him river baptisms violated the Park Authority's unwritten policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Christian Defense Coalition leapt to the defense of the church, saying the agency was denying members their First Amendment rights and discriminating against Christians.

Yesterday, The Washington Times reported that a member of Fredericksburg's New Generation Evangelical Episcopal Church would be baptized at the Waterfront Park this Sunday.

The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, head of the Christian Defense Coalition and a Spotsylvania County resident, is prepared to sue the Park Authority if it interferes.

Park Manager Brian Robinson said yesterday that the situation has been twisted almost beyond recognition.

There is no park policy against religious activities, he said--merely a requirement that large groups of any kind get permits to use the park in advance.

Robinson has said churches and other groups typically rent space in shelters in the parks the authority oversees. The controversy grew after he said use of common areas of the park for religious events isn't allowed so that others are "forced to endure someone else's religion."

The Rev. John H. Reid, pastor of the New Generation Evangelical Episcopal Church, said yesterday that he has baptized 40 people at the Waterfront Park over the past six years and has no plans to ask for a permit.

Reid said that in addition to the man who will be baptized Sunday, there will probably be only 10 to 20 church members observing the sacrament.

The church works with about 50 homeless and poor people, some of whom live along the river. The church feeds them prior to Sunday afternoon services.

"We've never had a big crowd [at a baptism]," Reid said.

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Date published: 6/3/2004