Ministry News

Pooch Praise: Church Offers Worship Services for Dogs

Details: Tuesday, 10 November 2009 13:31

It's official: Church has gone to the dogs. Starting this month, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles is turning God's house into a doghouse by inviting dog lovers to bring their pooches for a 30-minute canine-centric worship service. Intended as a weekly community outreach event, the services come complete with doggie beds, doggie treats and—we're not making this up—doggie prayers.

Pastor Tom Eggebeen thought of the idea three years ago to spark growth among his dwindling congregation and, as an avid dog-lover, believes the "Canines at Covenant" services meet a need for a largely ignored segment of believers.

"The Bible says of God only two things in terms of an 'is': that God is light and God is love," Eggebeen says. "And wherever there's love, there's God in some fashion. And when we love a dog and a dog loves us, that's a part of God and God is a part of that. So we honor that."

According to a recent Associated Press story, Eggebeen isn't alone but is part of a "growing trend among churches nationwide to address the spirituality of pets and the deeply felt bonds that owners form with their animals." Though calling this a definitive trend is debatable—one nationwide survey found a grand six churches involved in similar woof-oriented worship services—it does reveal a broadening attitude about pets and spirituality.

"It's the changing family structure, where pets are really central and religious communities are starting to recognize that people need various kinds of rituals that include their pets," says Laura Hobgood-Oster, a religion professor at Southwestern University who has studied the role of pets among Christians. "More and more people in mainline Christianity are considering them to have some kind of soul."

Whatever, er, dogma churches adopt, one thing is certain for Eggebeen: his plan is working. Of the more than 30 humans who attended the church's first service, three-fourths were newcomers. [AP, 11/4/09]

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Comments

+1 #13 Henry Lewis 2009-11-17 10:13

TABLE WORSHIP - Christian's are the premier bridge people of all time. The Cross made us so. We need to bridge to people as Family of the One who made all creation, including dogs. Though I could easily have my religious spirited objections, the Church has come very very short in taking all the Gospel to all the world, including unsaved dog owners. The more the better. As I finished reading the article the Lord quickened the scripture to me out of the blue, "Even the dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." What does Jesus say to her? "Great is your faith (Matthew 15:21-29)

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0 #12 Peter Millist 2009-11-17 06:19

Good grief, American churches sound almost as doctrinally flakey as British ones!

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+1 #11 TruthInLove 2009-11-17 05:47

Service dogs for many purposes are becoming more common in our society. Why not a church service where dog owners can bring their pets?

We have an incident going on in our church right now. A member who is bipolar and severely arthritic finds emotional stability in her relationship with her dog that she is training to certify as a service dog.

The occasional presence of the dog in worship has created a real stir among some of the members. I can't understand why because the dog is perfectly behaved. It comes in, lies down quietly on the floor and never makes a sound during the service.

I am diabetic and could become blind some day. I certainly would want to bring my dog to worship if I could no longer see. Why should that be acceptable and a therapy dog for our emotionally distraught member not be acceptable?

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0 #10 Matthew Wong 2009-11-15 02:55

I think America must repent...cos its getting sickening...the church is a place of worship to a holy God, not a zoo. It show that you love animal more than you love God.This is not right.

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0 #9 marilyn haas 2009-11-12 11:22

my point about dogs was...people love their dogs...my dear friend who has passed on probably would have actually walked into a church if she had known her precious "foster" was very welcome there...she probably would have heard the gospel....maybe she would have come to know our Lord...only God knows....but i will say what you already know...foster was there til the very end...i shared the Lord with her, and prayed with her...but dogs ARE special to people and we need to respect and understand that.

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+1 #8 Rick Weidman 2009-11-11 01:45

Let's be gracious here folks. I do believe that this Pastor is looking for creative ways to reach people for Christ NOT take the place of Christ. I am disheartened by the fact that so many would jump to false conclusions about this Pastor and his outreach methods. Granted, if he is NOT sharing the Gospel, then shame on him, but if he is simply using this "doggie" worship to attract the dechurched and unchurched back to church with then the opportunity to share Christ with these "doggie lovers" who would not otherwsise darken the door of a church, then GOD BLESS HIM.

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0 #7 Stephanie 2009-11-11 00:16

First let me say I am an avid dog lover. Here is my concern. We must be careful that we do not make our love for our dogs or pets great than our love for Christ. We want to honor him and keep his worship holy. That being said, to allow people to bring their dogs to service, well, I am not sure that is so bad, if it gets them in the door and you share the truth of the gospel of Christ with them. Designing a service for dogs is out of the question. Designing a house of worship where pets are welcome is another story. The Bible is clear that decency and order are important. We are not evangelizing the dogs - remember, it is not the dogs that are important - it is the owner and their relationship with Christ. Wrong to pray for the dogs? Not necessarily, Jesus is concerned about what concerns us. We must keep things in perspective. People and their relationship with Christ and and unadulterated truth of the gospel first and foremost - creative evangelism, could be an option.

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+1 #6 jean 2009-11-10 21:19

My Lord and my God! There is not one scripture in the Bible to back this up. And for this reason, it is wrong. And for this reason it will never, ever be right in the sight of God.......never.....ever, regardless of what man says.

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+2 #5 mlinderNZ 2009-11-10 18:41

The title is right to the point: This church is gone to the dogs, In Malaysia they take the monkeys, in India the cows, why in America not the dogs?? how far low are we sinking. Nothing wrong with a prayer over your pet, but taking them to worship is beond my Bible understanding

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+1 #4 Believer in the word 2009-11-10 15:50

What is going on in the church!!!!!Whats the bible say? If its not according to the word of God is must not be done.Its so sad that some Pastors are making up their own Bible's The bible says we are not to take out or add to Gods word,and if folk are doing this bring dogs to worship they have serious problems. Its no wonder the world laugh's at us.

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