Baptism permits not needed on Ozark Riverways

By DONNA FARLEY ~ Daily American Republic

Groups are no longer required to obtain a special use permit to hold baptisms in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, officials announced Thursday.

The reversal in policy came after inquiries from U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem, Mo.).

In a letter Wednesday to Superintendent Bill Black, Smith said he was concerned a person or church had to give 48 hours' notice before any such event.

Smith had been contacted by a church that uses Sinking Creek north of Eminence, Mo., for baptisms.

"The idea that a church can predict within two days if they will need to perform a baptism is absurd, and only diminishes these special occasions," Smith said.

In a letter Thursday to Smith, Black said the policy had been reviewed and the park superintendent has the flexibility to allow baptisms to occur without a permit.

"We also share your concern for the continuation of this traditional use of the rivers," Black wrote. "As of today, the park's policy has been clarified to state that no permit will be required for baptisms within the Riverways. I can assure you, the National Park Service has no intention of limiting the number of baptisms performed within the park."

The Riverways has denied the policy was intended to impede First Amendment rights, saying baptisms were part of a larger special-use policy that includes weddings, filming for commercial purposes and other activities.

Spokeswoman Faye Walmsley said no First Amendment permit requests had been denied, and the park had received baptism requests from only three churches since 2006.

"No churches have ever been refused permission for a baptism," Walmsley said.

The broader special-use policy is mostly intended for information gathering and sharing, she continued.

"It is to prevent a conflict with other user groups," Walmsley said.

She gave the example of a group that arrived at Alley Spring last year to hold a wedding without giving advance notice. The wedding could not take place because Haunting in the Hills events already were using the location.

Weddings are the most common special event, with the park issuing 21 permits in 2012, mostly for Big Spring and Alley Spring. The park also issued 13 other special-use permits in 2012, for events such as the scattering of cremains.

Special-use permits can be denied only for specific reasons, Walmsley said, including if it would cause damage to park resources, conflicts with other users, or impairs the operation of public facilities or services.

The decision to reverse the policy is a victory for common sense, Smith said Thursday.

"The notion that permits would be required for baptisms on our riverways is ridiculous," Smith said. "I appreciate Superintendent Bill Black's quick response to my request to rescind the permit requirement and I want to continue working with him and the folks who live along the rivers to preserve our traditions and rural way of life."