Episcopal Church resolutions relating to animals or hospitality toward the generally-overlooked vegan minority
Sunday, July 20th, 2008General Convention 2003 — Resolution D016 final version, adopted:
Resolution Number: 2003-D016
Title: Support Ethical Care of Animals
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred as Substituted and Amended
Final Text:Resolved,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.Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of…The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis,
2003 (New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 253.
Diocese of Chicago, 2003 — Resolution I with explanation which included the national resolution, adopted:
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.
Diocese of Chicago, 2004 — Resolution K, adopted, but the Chicago Deputation did not choose to submit a similar resolution at GC2006:
Resolved, that the Diocese of Chicago, acknowledging Resolution D016 as adopted at the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2003, commits to offering vegetarian / vegan dishes at all events where dishes containing meat are served.
Further Resolved, that this Diocesan Convention hereby requests the deputies elected from this Diocese to the 75th General Convention to sponsor substantially similar legislation at the 75th General Convention.
General Convention 2006 — Resolution D041 original version with explanation, (later amended, but rejected by the House of Bishops):
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 God’s 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.
Diocese of Chicago, 2007 — Resolution D-170 with explanation, adopted:
Resolved, that the 170th Convention of the Diocese of Chicago commend the following resolution to the General Convention Office of The Episcopal Church of the United States for consideration at the 76th General Convention of the Church in 2009:
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That this 76th General Convention reaffirm that all animals are part of all Creation, for which we are called to be stewards of God’s 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 this General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to develop prayers of thanksgiving for the life of, and 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 77th General Convention.
EXPLANATION
Various groups within the Church have demonstrated 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.
Prayers in the Book of Occasional Services would give clergy and others an authorized resource for offering pastoral care at the death of a companion animal.
UPDATE: The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia also passed a resolution to serve vegan options at diocesan events where meat is served at their convention in 2008. The explanation to their resolution was well written. You can read it here. This is the kind of thing that could be replicated around the country, and raise a little awareness not only about the animals, but about the inclusion of an invisible minority in the Church — vegans who are limited to “lettuce and black coffee” at church events. It is, in part, an issue of hospitality and welcome. And I would think that most churches would want to be hospitable and welcoming to all.
