Washington State: Church Can Picnic in Public Park, but not Baptize

According to The Seattle Times, the state Department of General Administration has refused to give a permit to an Olympia church that wants to hold a baptism along with its barbecue and picnic Sunday at Heritage Park on the Capitol Campus. The state constitution does not allow for state resources to be used for the exercise of religion, ruled Jane Rushford, acting director of the department. "We are approving their use of Heritage Park for the purpose of a picnic, a barbecue. We are denying their permit for the purpose of holding a baptism," said agency spokesman Jim Erskine. The church held picnics two previous years in Heritage Park without incident, and its permit this year lets it move forward with another picnic-barbecue at noon Sunday. It was not clear whether a legal challenge will ensue."