Frustration remains amongst Easter sunrise service application denial

Members of the Wareham Area Clergy Association remain frustrated by the town administrator’s denial of a permit for their Easter sunrise service application. 

For 25 years, the clergy association has held the sunrise service in Onset, utilizing spaces like the bandshell, Onset Beach and the gazebo that was in Bayview Park.

According to Town Administrator Derek Sullivan, the application for this year’s service was for 100 to 150 people with setup beginning at 5:30 a.m. for a 6 a.m. service time. He stated he reached out for more information and learned the service would include live music and a microphone.

In their Tuesday, April 15 meeting, the Select Board told Reverend Ginny Doran, member of the Wareham Area Clergy Association the service could be held in Wareham after 7 a.m., per the town’s noise ordinance law.

According to Doran and Wareham Area Clergy Association member Reverend Mac Smith, the event was held last year without issue and noise has never been an issue in the past.

Smith claims Sullivan attributed noise from early morning pickleball near the bandshell as an influence in his decision.

“I believe we should have been grandfathered in as we have done this for decades,” Smith said.

Sullivan did not comment specifically on the claims Smith made but said in an email response he is treating the clergy association as he would anyone.

“When they asked for a “special dispensation” for being a religious organization requesting the permit we treated them like everyone else,” Sullivan said.

The service has been moved to Buzzards Bay Park in Bourne beginning at 6 a.m., Sunday, April 20.