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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.
"And that's why they've never had any problem," Robinson said. "We wouldn't have an issue with that and wouldn't have a conversation with them."
Robinson said that if Cornerstone Baptist Church were to bring another large group in for baptisms--and it requested a permit--there would be no problem.
But, he also said that because of the danger in the river, the Park Authority would not formally sanction the baptisms and would want to have personnel on hand in case something went wrong.
"We don't own the river and we can't prohibit it," Robinson said.
Park Authority officials have become increasing edgy in recent years over frequent drownings in the treacherous currents and drop-offs near the area commonly called Falmouth Beach.
Less than an hour after the May 23 baptisms, a fisherman drowned nearby, just below the Falmouth Bridge.
The regional authority, which also oversees Old Mill Park in the city as well as Pratt and Brooks parks in Stafford, controls access to its part of the riverfront and parking areas. It plans to manage events on that strip of the river.
"This whole situation has been misconstrued," Robinson said.
"Maybe I was clumsy, maybe there was a misunderstanding" in discussions immediately following the group baptisms, he said.
Or, Robinson said, maybe some people didn't want to understand.
"The Rev. Mahoney has been less inclined to discuss this with us as opposed to seeing his name in the newspaper," he said.
Robinson stressed that there is no policy against religious activities at the regional parks, saying about three dozen religious groups regularly hold events at the Park Authority's sites.
For example, he said, Redeemer Lutheran Church has events at the parks. The Park Authority staff helped moved chairs and tables for the church this spring "and even helped unload and set up the old, rugged cross," he said.
"The difference this time is that there was no permit, the church called The Free Lance-Star down to report on it, and had people on the beach handing out fliers and pamphlets," Robinson said.
Because of the flap, the Park Authority's board of directors is considering a clarification of its permit policy, but not necessarily a change, he said.
To reach MICHAEL ZITZ: 540/374-5408 mikez@freelancestar.com