If they pay to reserve the pool then they are no different from any other group like a birthday party or a get together.

And saving someone does not mean that you are part of their religion, if you were to save me from drowning that would not make you an agnostic it would just mean that you are doing your job as a lifeguard.

Pools, as public as they may be, can do that.

I was a ycamper when I was yonger, and they would close the pool twice a week so my sports camp could play there.

Then in high school we practiced there in the morning, and evenings.

And now after my masters swim, team in training uses my new pool after hours for their triathalon training.

Both the YMCA and the high school had to pay to use the pool. And team in training is a charity, so i think the time is donated.

So my verdict would be, since churches are not a charity (a mon avis), if they pay for it they should be able to use the pool.

My only question would be if there isn't a lake or river near by? Or if not a single member of the church doesn't have a pool?

If I were religious, I'd want to be baptized in something natural.

I can't weigh in on the batptism specifics, I barely know what a baptism is.

Haha... kinda funny.

First, you can't unwillingly be converted to any religion if you don't want to be. That's just common sense.

Secondly I would say that it doesn't violate any separation of church and state. I would only hope that if another, non christian group, asked for the same favor it would be extended to them.

Hey, if the Church wants to rent out the entire pool for that, it'd be the same as a family renting it out for a big pool party.

Also, you can't be converted just by jumping in. lol. You can get baptized by anybody (surprisingly), but they have to say the words and dunk you into the water. It's not like the water is a disease that if you touch it, you get the "illness" that is Christianity. (Merely an analogy.) ;)

If they pay like any other group, no. If your pool does it out of the kindness Jesus put in you manager's heart, yes. However, I seriously doubt that this is true. Also, for you to be converted you need to accept the love of Jesus into your heart, just like your hypothetical manager!

Anyway, you will never find "Separation of Church and State" in any founding document. The first amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

It forbids congress from starting a religion or passing laws to hinder the exercise of religion. All of these Supreme Court decisions banning religion in any place public or not is not Constitutional.

The founders practiced religion in the government hundreds of times.

George Wasington to soldiers

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian."

--The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343.

John Adams.

"The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God."

--Adams wrote this on June 28, 1813, in a letter to Thomas Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson attended church, which was held in the White House and in the U.S. Treasury. He also got the Marine Corps Band to play the music for the worship services.

Congress and Presidents have called for hundreds of Proclamations for days of prayer, and fasting. and days for prayer and thanksgiving.

There are hundreds if not thousands of documented quotes to confirm this.