In one of the Pink Panther movies there’s a great exchange that no doubt has more ancient origins somewhere in vaudeville. Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) sees a man sitting with a cute little dog at his side. Closeau moves to pet the dog, then pauses for a moment, “Does your dog bite?” he asks. “No,” the man replies. Closeau reaches down toward the dog, which proceeds to attack him viciously. Finally extricating himself from the flashing fangs, Closeau exclaims with indignation, “You said your dog doesn’t bite!” The man replies very calmly, “That’s not my dog.”
Which question you ask can make all the difference.
As we begin the fall and engage the 2010 and Beyond Planning Process, we will be asking you to participate in some things we’ve done in the not-so-distant past. In the worship services on September 11 and 12, we will devote 10 minutes to a Congregational Survey. Didn’t we do one of those five years ago? And some time between September 12 and September 29, we’re asking for two hours of your time so that you can participate in a Listening Circle. Didn’t we do that three years ago as a part of the 150th Anniversary celebration?
Yes and No. We’ve done surveys before; but this one will be more focused, and it will allow us to compare our data with congregations of many different denominations from across the country: same idea, different questions. And we’ve gathered in small groups before to talk about the church; but the Listening Circles will be carefully structured under the guidance of our consultant, Susan Beaumont of the Alban Institute, so that we can capture and focus the ideas that emerge.
So while these activities seem similar to things we’ve done before, they will yield significant new information as part of a comprehensive process. And together with other carefully gathered data, the survey and Listening Circles will help us ask the most important questions of all: Who are we? Who is our neighbor? What is God calling us to do and become?
We know your time is precious; but this process will shape the life of the church for years to come. And no, this dog doesn’t bite.
See you in church,
David Ruhe
Which question you ask can make all the difference.
As we begin the fall and engage the 2010 and Beyond Planning Process, we will be asking you to participate in some things we’ve done in the not-so-distant past. In the worship services on September 11 and 12, we will devote 10 minutes to a Congregational Survey. Didn’t we do one of those five years ago? And some time between September 12 and September 29, we’re asking for two hours of your time so that you can participate in a Listening Circle. Didn’t we do that three years ago as a part of the 150th Anniversary celebration?
Yes and No. We’ve done surveys before; but this one will be more focused, and it will allow us to compare our data with congregations of many different denominations from across the country: same idea, different questions. And we’ve gathered in small groups before to talk about the church; but the Listening Circles will be carefully structured under the guidance of our consultant, Susan Beaumont of the Alban Institute, so that we can capture and focus the ideas that emerge.
So while these activities seem similar to things we’ve done before, they will yield significant new information as part of a comprehensive process. And together with other carefully gathered data, the survey and Listening Circles will help us ask the most important questions of all: Who are we? Who is our neighbor? What is God calling us to do and become?
We know your time is precious; but this process will shape the life of the church for years to come. And no, this dog doesn’t bite.
See you in church,
David Ruhe
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