Clearly, a residentially trained pastor would *never* get up to such shenanigans in the chancel. Since they *are* so well-trained. You know, there are SMP sole pastors that are faithful and effective. I get tired of us being painted as the plague of the Synod.
Edit to add: Where is his supervising pastor in all this. Why are supervising pastors never questioned?
There is no supervision. This man has no business being a sole general ministry pastor. I refrained from detailing the circumstances that led to the dogs being whistled in, but suffice it to say, he was outsourcing duties only he could and should perform.
Well, then -- that makes all the difference. All SMP pastors are to have direct supervision.
Obviously, such practice as seen here is beyond the pale. However, would the content of the article be changed in any way if you left SMP out of it? Substitute "residentially formed pastor" for "SMP" and see if you find a reason for my taking offense.
In this case, the SMP status is relevant because the ecclesial supervisors will not confirm how this man was certified for general ministry in a different state and way off his original specific situation.
I have a gutteral reaction against dogs (or any animal) in the Nave, chancel, or sanctuary. Tie them up outside if you must bring them. However much we like to apply humanity to them, they are animals. The gifts offered in the Lord's Divine Service are not for them.
Is it correct to say that when there is no supervising senior pastor , the SMP comes under District President? It is sad to see this occur. However, IMO this is a result of slipping into the feminization of the church.
Theoretically, no SMP can operate without a direct supervisor and, by extension, the DP. They are also under the lifelong supervision of the seminaries they graduated from. So, there is another level of accountability that we are following up on.
You are correct. Only the Lord is our true comfort. No animal should be substituted. Dogs do not belong in church period. I’m weary of seeing animals everywhere being treated as humans. I can’t believe any pastor let this happen. So depressing to think people are this ignorant. Lord have mercy on your stupid sinful people.
Good article, but lack of training of an SMP isn’t the issue. Not only do senior pastors do some really wrong things but any elder of a church through first year seminarian should’ve known better. Seminaries have some standards and practices needing great overhauls.
That's all valid, thank you. Any member of the congregation should have called a halt as soon as the dog appeared in the aisle. People don't do this because they are afraid of causing a scene or countermanding the pastor. However, we need to have the courage to save a pastor from himself when he's lost his way.
Now that is just weird. We have had a long term member training many dogs over the years with the Paws for the Cause program. You never knew the dog was even in the sanctuary unless you sat near them. The focus was never on the dog, or in providing "comfort". Another member was blind and had his companion dog. I love most dogs so thought it amazing God provides us with such creatures to be a help to us, but nobody focused any attention on the dogs during the service. You usually did not even see them. We don't need gimmicks. We have a treasure!
So, just to confirm. One should remain quiet about a district president getting arrested for producing child pornography because he is a good guy who made a mistake. But we should rage about a guy who brought some therapy dogs to church.
Clearly, a residentially trained pastor would *never* get up to such shenanigans in the chancel. Since they *are* so well-trained. You know, there are SMP sole pastors that are faithful and effective. I get tired of us being painted as the plague of the Synod.
Edit to add: Where is his supervising pastor in all this. Why are supervising pastors never questioned?
There is no supervision. This man has no business being a sole general ministry pastor. I refrained from detailing the circumstances that led to the dogs being whistled in, but suffice it to say, he was outsourcing duties only he could and should perform.
Why was my response deleted?
Nothing has been deleted. Please check that you saved it.
My apologies.
Well, then -- that makes all the difference. All SMP pastors are to have direct supervision.
Obviously, such practice as seen here is beyond the pale. However, would the content of the article be changed in any way if you left SMP out of it? Substitute "residentially formed pastor" for "SMP" and see if you find a reason for my taking offense.
In this case, the SMP status is relevant because the ecclesial supervisors will not confirm how this man was certified for general ministry in a different state and way off his original specific situation.
That makes total sense now. Thanks for the clarification.
But the Pastor who is overseeing the SMP pastor clearly has allowed this to go on. Shame on him.
I have a gutteral reaction against dogs (or any animal) in the Nave, chancel, or sanctuary. Tie them up outside if you must bring them. However much we like to apply humanity to them, they are animals. The gifts offered in the Lord's Divine Service are not for them.
The greater problem is the confusion caused for many people who think the dogs actually bring those gifts with less judgement and more compassion.
Is it correct to say that when there is no supervising senior pastor , the SMP comes under District President? It is sad to see this occur. However, IMO this is a result of slipping into the feminization of the church.
Theoretically, no SMP can operate without a direct supervisor and, by extension, the DP. They are also under the lifelong supervision of the seminaries they graduated from. So, there is another level of accountability that we are following up on.
Here are links to earlier Brothers of John the Steadfast blogs about what some have called “pooch pastors”:
January 13, 2009, BJS blog, “Dog Ministry? You Can’t Make this Stuff Up,”
(https://web.archive.org/web/20101201124024/http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=2870)
January 13, 2010, BJS blog, “The LCMS in Her Own Words – Comfort Dog Installed as Staff Member in Northern Illinois Parish” (https://web.archive.org/web/20101201124115/http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=8792)
October 7, 2010, BJS blog, “Comfort Dogs Come Home to Roost in My Parish”
(https://web.archive.org/web/20101224055411/http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=12456)
However, in a February 11, 2011, BJS article, “Reconciliation with Tillie the Comfort Dog” (https://web.archive.org/web/20110816120238/http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=13808), the BJS editor gave the right hand-to-paw of LCMS fellowship (https://web.archive.org/web/20130910011754im_/http://steadfastlutherans.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/IMG_4832-shrunk.jpg) to a comfort dog.
You are correct. Only the Lord is our true comfort. No animal should be substituted. Dogs do not belong in church period. I’m weary of seeing animals everywhere being treated as humans. I can’t believe any pastor let this happen. So depressing to think people are this ignorant. Lord have mercy on your stupid sinful people.
Good article, but lack of training of an SMP isn’t the issue. Not only do senior pastors do some really wrong things but any elder of a church through first year seminarian should’ve known better. Seminaries have some standards and practices needing great overhauls.
That's all valid, thank you. Any member of the congregation should have called a halt as soon as the dog appeared in the aisle. People don't do this because they are afraid of causing a scene or countermanding the pastor. However, we need to have the courage to save a pastor from himself when he's lost his way.
Now that is just weird. We have had a long term member training many dogs over the years with the Paws for the Cause program. You never knew the dog was even in the sanctuary unless you sat near them. The focus was never on the dog, or in providing "comfort". Another member was blind and had his companion dog. I love most dogs so thought it amazing God provides us with such creatures to be a help to us, but nobody focused any attention on the dogs during the service. You usually did not even see them. We don't need gimmicks. We have a treasure!
So, just to confirm. One should remain quiet about a district president getting arrested for producing child pornography because he is a good guy who made a mistake. But we should rage about a guy who brought some therapy dogs to church.
Not sure who was staying quiet about Mohr, but it wasn't AdC News.