Dogs in church

When the Rev. Tom Eggebeen took over as interim pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church three years ago, he looked around and knew it needed a jump start.

Most of his worshippers, though devoted, were in their 60s, attendance had bottomed out and the once-vibrant church was fading as a community touchstone in its bustling neighborhood.

So Eggebeen came up with a hair-raising idea: He would turn God's house into a doghouse by offering a 30-minute service complete with individual doggie beds, canine prayers and an offering of dog treats.

This one scared me. At first I thought they were literally having church for dogs. That would be... messed up.

However, I then saw that they are having services in which pets are welcome:

The weekly dog service at Covenant Presbyterian is part of a growing trend among churches nationwide to address the ... deeply felt bonds that owners form with their animals.

And then I kept reading:

Traditionally, conventional Christians believe that only humans have redeemable souls, said Laura Hobgood-Oster, a religion professor at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

But a growing number of congregations from Massachusetts to Texas to California are challenging that assertion with regular pet blessings and, increasingly, pet-centric services, said Hobgood-Oster, who studies the role of animals in Christian tradition.

I just don't know what to think, but here's my stance: making churches friendly and inviting - good. Praying for animal's souls - not good.

Honestly, I have to expect that the reporter is simply getting the facts a little askew. Let's hope. I could quote scripture here, but let's just go with logic: there is no dog Bible. There is no way for dogs to a) know the need for salvation or b) accept salvation.

I hope to dog that all these churches are on board with that, otherwise they are going to have a ruff time getting all their parishioners to their final destination.