Here is the original text to GC2006 Resolution D041, found at
http://gc2006.org/legislation:

ORIGINAL TEXT

Resolution D041

Title: Liturgy for the Loss of a Companion Animal

Topic: Liturgy

Committee: 13. Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music

House of Initial Action: Bishops

Proposer: The Rev. Lee Shaw (Utah)

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Resolved, the House of _____ concurring, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm that all animals are a part of All Creation, for which we are called to be stewards of Godís gifts; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church embrace the opportunity for pastoral care for people who grieve the loss of a companion animal; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop a rite to observe the loss of a companion animal for inclusion in the next edition of the Book of Occasional Services and that it report its work to the 76th General Convention.

EXPLANATION

Various groups within the Church have shown an interest in developing inclusive liturgies for events that touch people’s lives, for which there currently exists no authorized rite. The bond between humans and their animal companions can be strong, causing a deep sense of loss, grief (or even guilt) over the animal’s death, especially when dealing with the loss alone, without the presence of their community of faith, or having a preconception that such an event falls outside the interest of their church. Our animal companions provide a unique connection to creation and expand our sense of God’s diverse gifts in creation. In many cases they also join us as partners in ministry, in such capacities as assistance animals, i.e., seeing eye dogs, etc. as well as therapy dogs and cats used in health care facilities and for pastoral care. An authorized rite in the Book of Occasional Services would give clergy and others a resource for offering pastoral care at the death of a companion animal.

* Resolution is final but status and text are still under review before publication.

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Briefly, 6 people spoke at the committee hearing strongly in favor of the resolution. But at the following meeting on Monday, when the committee had to vote, two or three on the committee gave red herring reasons why they would vote against it — because some friends one had from Africa laughed when they heard we have animal hospitals in this country, and something about “Western privilege” (not realizing that it is “Western privilege” that enables people like Episcopalians to spend the big bucks to meet at a 10 day convention, and spend big bucks on a steak dinner). And another mentioned the MDG’s, as if we shouldn’t care about animals until all the world’s problems are solved, or as if this would detract from other work in the Church. The committee voted to reduce the resolution to prayers from a liturgy. When it went to the House of Bishops, they rejected it, with demeaning comments. That was a totally unexpected kick in the stomach.

I’m putting together some posts I sent to my listserv. It’s linked here.

In the meantime (between now and the next time we try again), liturgies for companion animals are available in Andrew Linzey’s Animal Rites, or,
here and
here.

The Church as an institution cannot censor our “unauthorized” prayers.
Thanks be to God!

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To the Episcopal bishops who considered this resolution too trivial to waste your time on (compared to some of the other rites of passage liturgies that weren’t) this quote is for you:

“Far from being a little issue, animals have become a litmus test of whether we really believe in a God who is great enough to transform the evil in the world….
[T]he churches who should be leaders in the movement for the protection of animals are not even in the procession….
Christian indifference has contributed to a state of near despair about the plight of animals….”
–The Revd Professor Andrew Linzey, PhD, DD,
from The Gospel for Every Creature

And to the bishop who threw “Western privilege” out as a red herring, how about all the Western privileges Episcopalians enjoy? The Church is full of Western privileges. If it weren’t, you’d be preaching a vegan Lent, and a boycott of fur, and people would take you seriously, right? The convention planners would look for a simpler and less expensive way to make General Convention more accessible for average members to attend. Think of all the paper and fossil fuel each Convention wastes — Stewardship of Creation (or lack of it) by the schizophrenic Body of Christ.

(I’ll apologize when you do).

“The indifference, callousness and contempt that so many people exhibit toward animals is evil first because it results in the great suffering of animals, and second because it results in an incalculably great impoverishment of the human spirit.”
– Ashley Montagu