Church invites man's best friend

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**youngblood**

When a Los Angeles pastor decided his church needed a boost in membership, he did a little soul-searching and decided man's best friend should be part of the fold.

Now, his Sunday service at Covenant Presbyterian Church is attracting new parishioners — and their faithful pooches.

On a recent Sunday, you can see that most of those arriving are not regular churchgoers. For one thing, it takes them a while to get settled in their seats

"Good boy! Sit!" Emma Sczesniak says to her dogs, Marley and Midnight, both on leashes. Midnight is a black, fluffy dog who towers over Marley, who may have some terrier in him.

"They're both rescue dogs," Sczesniak says. "My pets have always been my babies, so [the service] seemed like something I might be interested in."

Another parishioner, Vicky Rambow, is tethered to Sadie and Mac. Both dogs are low to the ground. Rambow guesses they’re corgi and ... something. She says a church service that welcomes dogs is just what she was looking for.

"I'll come as long as they do it," she says, adding that she doesn't regularly attend church — but "this has caused me to come back."

Sadie and Mac tangle their leashes on their way into the small chapel located next to the church's main sanctuary. A few of the parishioners are in pews, but most are in folding chairs next to doggie beds of various sizes.

The music begins, and the congregation is getting a little rambunctious. Someone steps in the water dish, and a border collie wants to play with the poodle mix. It takes a few resounding commands of "Stay!" — and then it's time to pray.

"Thank you for all the gifts that you have given to us, including our four-footed friends," prays the Rev. Tom Eggebeen, the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Why Dogs?

Eggebeen says churches have been slow to recognize the deep bond people have with their pets.

"The question was raised by other people, you know, why dogs?" he says. "Not only are they important family members, but there’s more to it than that. They belong to God, too, by gum."

Eggebeen, himself a dog lover, says another question he is often asked is whether he believes dogs have souls.

"When God created life, he blessed every dimension of it," he says. "So we share that with all the animals of the world."

Services like those offered at Covenant Presbyterian are part of a growing interest among people whose pets are central to their lives.

Laura Hobgood-Oster, a professor of religion at Southwestern University, conducted a survey that found more than 500 churches nationwide conduct annual blessings of pets and animals.

"They very specifically said that in addition to showing that kind of creation care for more than just the human world, that they also were gearing these particular events towards growing their congregations," Hobgood says.

'As Much For The Dogs'

Meanwhile, the congregation at Covenant Presbyterian has settled in for the sermon. Some are lounging on the floor. Others are sitting politely on the laps of their owners. All eyes are on the pastor — and they certainly appear to be all ears.

Eggebeen's sermon is punctuated — often at just the right moment — with barking.

When Eggebeen says, "The word 'dominion' — one of the words related in our English language would be what? Anybody want to hazard a guess?" a dog is the first to answer.

Joanna and Robert Barnes, who brought Charlie, a small dog with white, silky fur, say they appreciate the message of the sermon.

"It feels like it's as much for the dogs as it is for the owners," Joanna Barnes says.

They don't hand out hymnals at this service — with leashes to hold or a dog in your lap, it would be just too much. But the dogs do get biscuits.

And by the time the closing hymn is sung, the pit bull in the second row is curled up next to the schnauzer.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120821494

What do you guys think? Is this a genuine way to make church more inviting or a gimmick to boost attendance numbers?

From a practical standpoint, I can't imagine something more distracting than a dog in church, let alone many of them. With that said, I also think that church the way is currently done is completely wrong.

**mattyrm**

A dog is a fine, noble animal. Capable of great love for its owner. Im all for it!

Not that i would ever go to Church, but why not?

One of the things i always disliked about the Bible was the idea that man is superior to everything else and should have "dominion" over all the life on earth. I prefer my dog to a great many humans, and i like to think that if i went to a church and i wanted to take my dog, then why not?

Long as he isnt gaking on the seats or barking all the time. I guess "well behaved" dogs should be allowed, not any old mangy stray!

**Frazzled**

There is a day where the pets our blessed. Its an outdoor service. Its loud.

**Cheese Elemental**

I don't think that animals should be brought into church (simply because it's impractical), but the meaning behind it is brilliant.

**Albatross**

Hell, why not? People bring their annoying, crying children.
At least if you stroke someone-else's DOG you don't get funny looks...

**JEB_Stuart**

And the reason why Albatross is creepy sometimes comes into the light...

**Kanluwen**

Frazzled wrote:There is a day where the pets our blessed. Its an outdoor service. Its loud.

Really? You guys do it outdoors?

The church near me(St. Francis) does it indoors.

It's hell on the benches, but it's the only day I go. Because it's hilarious seeing the dogs react to being splashed with holy water.

Or using one of those hypersonic button emitters and trying to get the dogs to accentuate the "Amen". Either/or.

**Albatross**

I want to state for the record that I DO NOT stroke other people's children.

Uh, anyone need a baby-sitter?

**Owain**

Does anyone else notice that as congregations dwindle the interpretations of scripture get increasingly lax?

**Kilkrazy**

In the good old days priests were always going to bless flocks and stuff. It's just because modern western society is primarily urban that we say any incongruity in it.

There is a priest in the UK who is doing services on ice at the moment.

**Kanluwen**

...Holy crap, I would totally go to an ice skating sermon.

I think the best one I've seen though, is a friend whose church ran services in between paintball games.

Mike thought he was converting me to religion.
But it was really just the fact that the church paid for everything other than my gun for a whole day of paintball!

**Emperors Faithful**

mattyrm wrote:A dog is a fine, noble animal. Capable of great love for its owner. Im all for it!

Indeed they are. Way better than cats to.

One of the things i always disliked about the Bible was the idea that man is superior to everything else and should have "dominion" over all the life on earth. I prefer my dog to a great many humans, and i like to think that if i went to a church and i wanted to take my dog, then why not?

That is ONE interpertation. Another is that mankind was supposed to 'sheperd' the animals. Act responsibly, such as NOT cleansing the forests of creatures and emptying the seas of fish.

But, as with a lot of the bible, YMMV.

**Edorian**

I think it's mostly a novelty soon to wear off. As much as I like dogs in general, I still don't think a church is the right place to take your dog with you. First, it's a place to celebrate the belief in god and that needs a certain atmosphere imo. Second, quite a few dogs are just as badly raised as many children and these dogs almost always don't get along well with other dogs, let alone the noise.
Long story short, I can't see why there should be dogs or any animals in church at all (not counting assisting ones). Don't know about you, but in good ol' germany you'd have trouble if you brought animals with you. And we are said to love dogs (which is halfway true)!

At least if you stroke someone-else's DOG you don't get funny looks...

Oh dear... in Belgium that's totally perfect to stroke unknown children *heck, where's that evil smiley?!*

**Manchu**

Frazzled wrote:There is a day where the pets our blessed. Its an outdoor service. Its loud.

Are you Catholic?

Kilkrazy wrote:In the good old days priests were always going to bless flocks and stuff.

Still happens, usually on the Feast of St Francis. Variation on what Frazz is talking about above in more rural areas.

Albatross wrote:People bring their annoying, crying children.

Babies crying shouldn't be annoying in a church. In a library maybe but not during mass. If this annoys you when you're next worshiping, reflect on why. (I mean that in all seriousness, no jab intended.)

**JEB_Stuart**

Emperors Faithful wrote:That is ONE interpertation. Another is that mankind was supposed to 'sheperd' the animals. Act responsibly, such as NOT cleansing the forests of creatures and emptying the seas of fish.

It is also the orthodox interpretation. But the responsibility bit is still there, it is how man's superiority is tempered. God gave us the planet to look over, we use it how we see fit, end result God judges us on how we took care of his gift. Its quite simple and is very poorly represented unfortunately....

**Manchu**

Speaking of Orthodox . . .

This is an old article, but Bartholomew I is always telling the people about environmentalism. You'll also find it highlighted more and more in documents from the Vatican. See Benedict XVI's latest encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, for example.

**JEB_Stuart**

I have read a bit of Caritas in Veritate, but I haven't finished it. As a good member of the CoE I have no time for popery.

**Orlanth**

So long as you don't try to make up doctrines to try and atach a spirituality to the animals presence its ok.

Dogs are not unclean in Christian doctrine, dogs in a mosque is something that isn't going to happen. In dfact it would profane a mosque or synagogue. There is nothing unscriptural about bringing animals to church, its just unusual.

So long as the animals are house trained I cannot see a problem with it. Gimic, not really in fact this church is in many respects holier for eschewing traditions that are not scriptural in favour of openness. Problems occur when scriptural guidelines are made lax, that does weaken the church and is a sign of decline. This however is a sign of something else, open mindedness, and that can only be a good thing.

This concept has been linked above to declining church figures, please remember only part of the church is in decline, Catholics and Anglicans might have dwindling congregations, but the Pentecostal, Charismatic and Evangelistic movements are expanding very rapidly, others are holding their own. In fact Christianity the fastest growing religious group and even outstrips Islam in its expansion though in both cases immigration rather than conversion is partly responsible for the change. This statistic is often overlooked by the press, who only see the official church in decline and do not see the vast rise of the Pentecostal church movement.

**Manchu**

@JEB: Ah, this Church belongs to the State snobbery again!

Spe salvi is my favorite so far. It was almost entirey written by him, which is very unusual. Caritas in veritate is incredibly complicated but it deals with very difficult issues.

Some have suggested that environmentalism be added to human dignity, common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity as a fifth "pillar" of Catholic social teaching.

**Frazzled**

Albatross wrote:People bring their annoying, crying children.

Babies crying shouldn't be annoying in a church. In a library maybe but not during mass. If this annoys you when you're next worshiping, reflect on why. (I mean that in all seriousness, no jab intended.)

babies crying. There is a cry room at our church and people often use it. However a crying baby doesn't bug us. What is a annoying is when a baby starts singing or toddler in front of us stands up and starts horsing around with the Wife. Its not annoying to us, its annoying to everyone else when we start laughing or SWMBO starts singing along with the baby.

Thats my wife, magnet for animals and small children.

**Manchu**

Lovely picture. Whenever you write SWMBO, I read "swimbo" and think "bimbo," which makes me wince.

**Frazzled**

SWMBO is easier than She Who Must Be Obeyed (and pronto!)

**Manchu**

Oh, I know what it stands for. That's why I wince.

**mattyrm**

JEB_Stuart wrote: God gave us the planet to look over, we use it how we see fit, end result God judges us on how we took care of his gift..

You missed a bit Jeb...

"Allegedly"

**Cheese Elemental**

Don't even think of starting it. This is a thread about one church, not religion as a whole.

**Frazzled**

mattyrm wrote:
JEB_Stuart wrote: God gave us the planet to look over, we use it how we see fit, end result God judges us on how we took care of his gift..

You missed a bit Jeb...

"Confirmed"

Corrected your typo.

**Orlanth**

Frazzled wrote:
Thats my wife, magnet for animals and small children.

That explains much, and I doubt you are a small child.

**mattyrm**

Sorry.. but when you toss things like that out so matter of factly i just cant help myself! I dont behave like that, contantly giving my own personal opinion as if it is a definate fact, and neither should they.

Oh yeah but anyway.. dogs in church is a great idea. Im all for it.

**Manchu**

mattyrm wrote:I dont behave like that, contantly giving my own personal opinion as if it is a definate fact, and neither should they.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I think it was pretty obvious that JEB was speaking from the perspective of that belief in order to elucidate it rather than thoughtlessly imposing on you. Ah well, countdown to lock.

**Frazzled**

Orlanth wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Thats my wife, magnet for animals and small children.

That explains much, and I doubt you are a small child.

mind of a child? Mind of a goat?

Whilst we type I have been informed the new wiener dog got up on the kitchen table and ate the boy's breakfast when he waled off for a second. I have to respect that catlike ability.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

mattyrm wrote:Sorry.. but when you toss things like that out so matter of factly i just cant help myself! I dont behave like that, contantly giving my own personal opinion as if it is a definate fact, and neither should they.

Oh yeah but anyway.. dogs in church is a great idea. Im all for it.

They are fact. Its not our fault you can't open your eyes to that fact.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Manchu wrote:
mattyrm wrote:I dont behave like that, contantly giving my own personal opinion as if it is a definate fact, and neither should they.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I think it was pretty obvious that JEB was speaking from the perspective of that belief in order to elucidate it rather than thoughtlessly imposing on you. Ah well, countdown to lock.

No locks any more. Sheriff's gone. Go to town. Rob the Bank! Annoy the school marm! the end fo the Dog is nigh!