OLYMPIA — Washington administrators recently denied permits to two Olympia churches that asked to use state property for their religious exercises, even though officials previously approved other permits for spiritual activity.
The Department of General Administration has taken an extremely nuanced stance on what types of religious conduct are acceptable on state property, according to interviews and documents released to The Associated Press under state public records laws. Prayer, church picnics and advertising for fundraisers sponsored by houses of worship have been allowed. Baptisms and religious speeches have not.
GA spokesman Jim Erskine said officials have been consulting with the attorney general’s office on the issue and are drawing a fine line between what is accepted and what is not.
“I have to say, I can see where it can be confusing,” Erskine said. “It is something that I believe has to be looked at carefully – on a case by case basis.”
State leaders have been grappling for years over how to handle religious issues on public property, and an escalating debate over religious displays in the Capitol a few years ago led the state to ban all displays inside the building. They are still struggling to balance constitutional rights of free speech and religion against Washington constitutional limits on the state’s involvement.
“No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment,” the state Constitution says.
Jane Rushford, the GA’s acting director, cited that point when denying an appeal from an Olympia church that asked to hold a private barbecue and baptism ceremony at Heritage Park last weekend.
Another church asked to have a small tent and a speaker for an event in September. But the state rejected that proposal because it amounted to religious instruction.
Nancy Peterson, the church member who pursued that permit, said it seemed that the title of the event – which referred to the Sermon on the Mount – was a red flag that led state officials to investigate it further.
“I was disappointed, but that’s the way it is,” Peterson said. “As long as they’re being consistent.”
The denials, however, closely mirror other permits that have been approved in recent months. Among them:
• A group got approval for an event in June that requested a spot at Heritage Park for a “gathering in a sacred way to join in a world-wide prayer.”
• A ministry group was granted a full day last weekend to use Sylvester Park, where organizers planned to have bands, dream interpretation and “Words of Encouragement.”
• Two religious organizations were allowed to hang signs from a pedestrian bridge to advertise fundraisers.
• The Washington Christian Leaders Coalition got a permit for a public event at the Legislative building in March, and the state provided a theater setup and a podium for speeches.
• A group got approval in May to use the steps and rotunda of the Legislative building for a National Day of Prayer event.
Erskine, the GA spokesman, said prayer is considered more of a conversation instead of an instruction or exercise, so that’s why it can be allowed while others are not.
He said state rules can be clearly applied to some permits.
“In other instances, it is murky,” he said.
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