Diocese of Chicago adopted ‘Resolution I’
THE 166th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF
THE DIOCESE OF CHICAGO
November 7-8, 2003
Sponsor: Members of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals:
Ms. Sue Grisham, Christ Church, Waukegan
The Rev. Martin Johnson, St. Markís, Glen Ellyn
Mr. Victor Przysiezny, Trinity, Highland Park
The Rev. Alexander Seabrook, Church of the Incarnation, Bloomingdale
Subject: Stewardship: The Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment
RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, that the Diocese of Chicago, acknowledging Resolution D016 adopted at the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2003, commits to engage in continuing dialogue in our congregations and within the diocese, recognizing that the treatment of captive and domestic animals is part of our responsibility as stewards of creation, and with the help of available educational resources, will act in appropriate ways to promote the protection of animals from neglect and cruelty.
EXPLANATION
Animals, particularly those who are bred and raised as commodities, too often live, hidden from public view, in conditions where they are so severely confined in unnatural environments, which frustrate their needs to practice exploratory, social and grooming behavior, and which deprive them of sufficient space for movement and comfort. Puppy mills and factory farms are just two examples where billions of animals in the United States are kept in horrendous living conditions, mostly without benefit of meaningful or enforceable animal protection laws.
Resolution D016 of the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church provides a platform on which to build, giving a long-awaited Christian face, hands and voice to animal advocacy as an ethical and moral concern for “the least of these” who have no voice. We are asking the Diocese of Chicago to affirm the resolution that passed at General Convention. We also urge individual church members and their congregations to become better educated about the plight of animals, to be able to make informed choices, and to take all appropriate actions to help protect animals from unnecessary suffering.
* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution D016
Topic/Title: Stewardship: The Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment
Proposer: The Rev. Canon David Shoulders (Indianapolis)
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Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 74th General Convention recognize that responsible care of animals falls within the stewardship of creation; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church encourage its members to ensure that husbandry methods for captive and domestic animals would prohibit suffering in such conditions as puppy mills, and factory-farms; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church’s Peace and Justice Office identify existing guidelines to educate its members to adhere to ethical standards in the care and treatment of animals; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church, through its Office of Government Relations, identify and advocate for legislation protecting animals and effective enforcement measures.
* Resolution is final but status and text are still under review before publication.
View all resolutions here (resolutions only, and downloadable pdf files that give more details): http://www.epischicago.org/Diocese/Convention/Resolutions.cfm
Highlights: Convention 2003: A call to unity and mission — The 166th Annual Convention”