ASWA - USA
[To anyone who came to this site from ASWA's Links page:
Please see http://Episcoveg.weblogger.com/2003/11/08 for combination highlights from this year, both at General Convention and at Chicago's diocesan convention.]
Anglican Society for the Welfare of AnimalsAims and Objectives
To inaugurate a society of clergy and laymen following the report of the Church Assembly 1970 ‘Man in his living environment’, the society to be known as ‘The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals’. The society’s objects to be the promotion of prayer, study and action on behalf of animals.
1. To keep before all members of congregations by means of prayer, sermons, discussions and animal blessing services their duty to be merciful to the animals in their power and to be fellow workers with Christ in the task of world redemption.
2. To seek to include in the Church liturgy prayers of repentance for our treatment of living creatures and for our indirect encouragement of cruel exploitation.
3. To seek to include in the Church liturgy prayers for those who have special responsibility for animals and to press for the recognition of these aims on all festivals connected with the theme of creation.
4. To keep members of the Church accurately informed on the exploitation of animals wherever they are subject to man’s use or pleasure.
5. To co-operate with other organizations, whether religious or secular, that have compatible aims.
6. To organize a Christian protest where it may be deemed necessary.
7. To recognize God’s love for the whole of his creation and to appreciate, love and respect all living things.
Inquiries from people in the U.S. who want to know if we're forming an Episcopal organization similar to ASWA, have been referred my way. Whether we will ever have an organization similar to ASWA, or an American branch, will depend on who in the Episcopal Church would be willing to do the organizational work. There are advantages to having a local organization, including postage & currency, publishing, local issues, charitable non-profit status, to name a few. But as one person put it, why reinvent the wheel.
We can join the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals, which has been active and Church-recognized in the UK for over 30 years. And as members, we can keep in contact with each other here. And we can do things locally.
To join ASWA, a yearly membership/subscription costs GBP 10.00. (And although it isn't required, more may be given, to help defray their cost of overseas airmail postage for sending the biannual magazines to the U.S.) The preferred method of payment is in the form of a cheque written on an English bank in pounds, and mailed to the ASWA Treasurer in England. Either the Correspondence Secretary in the UK or I can give you her name and address upon request.
But, to make it simpler and less expensive for a majority of Americans who would like to join, I am willing to include new members' memberships/subscriptions on the same cheque that I obtain to renew the memberships/subscriptions of most of the current members in the U.S. (I've done this for the past couple of years. And I've recently been designated as the official U.S.A. Representative by ASWA's committee members.)
If you have questions, please contact InfoNO_SPAM_WERE_VEGAN@Episcoveg.com, including "ASWA-USA" on the subject line. (Please see the bottom of the page for a special note about contacting this address.)
Again, the yearly membership/subscription for ASWA is GBP 10.00.
The exchange rate fluctuates all the time. Here is a site where you can find the current exchange rate: http://www.xe.com/ucc
The place where I obtain my cheques does not give me the best rate, and also charges a $10.00 service fee to cut a cheque. So I am willing to include any new members along with renewing members on the same cheque. But I will be asking everyone for an extra dollar (at least), to defray the cost of the service fee and the difference in exchange rate. Anything I collect over and above those charges will be included on the cheque to ASWA to help defray the cost of their airmail postage to us.
There are a few advantages for people in the U.S. going in on the same cheque:
1) It's more convenient for most people, which may be the deciding factor for joining.
2) It will save each person at least $9.00 in bank service fees.
3) It would be good for us to know who our local members are, and to be able to stay in communication with each other periodically.
4) It would be helpful to know who else in our own dioceses are members, in case we'd like to plan something as a group.
Yearly renewals are due at the end of each year. I would need to collect money from everyone before the end of December each year. I will no longer extend credit to anyone (including priests). But I will contact all current members around the end of November, as a reminder. And I will also put the word out to prospective new members at the same time.
ECUSA members of ASWA can help to advertise the existence of the Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals in this country, by purchasing a mug or a T-shirt. Proceeds from these items will go toward recouping the costs of General Convention, and furthering ASWA's mission in the United States. The mugs are $5.00. And the T-shirts are $15.00. Please email me if you have questions about sizes and availability.
Click here for the Order form
Updated 5/14/2004:
infoNO_SPAM_WERE_VEGAN@episcoveg.com [please remove "No_SPAM_WERE_VEGAN" from the email address] is an address that should be used by people in the US who are interested in joining ASWA, or who would like to to order a mug or T-shirt. It can also be used by anyone who would like to correspond about issues pertaining to animals and Christianity or how that might be applicable within the Episcopal Church. (However, it would be better if people interested in those topics would simply join the Episcoveglist listserv.)
Emails that look like spam, scams, solicitations, or offers from businesses or companies that have no connection to animal advocacy or the Episcopal Church will not be answered. (I say that because I know people who have no interest in the topics of animals & religion, but are searching for email addresses in the US, enter this website on this page.)
