Hearing on Resolution regarding liturgies and prayers for Companion Animals

Toni Sutliff testifies on supplemental music for the hymnal

Steve Keplinger testifies on prayers for companion animals

Lee Shaw testifies on prayers for companion animals

Lee Shaw sitting as a member of the Prayer Book, Liturgy, and Music Committee

Kona, a service dog, sits during testimony on prayers for companion animals

Mocha, a service dog, observes testimony on prayers for companion animals

Brad Wirth before the hearing of Prayer Book, Liturgy and Music Committee on prayers for companion animals

Early one day last week (it's all starting to blend in together), the Legislative Committee on Liturgy, Prayer Book, and Music (or some title like that) held its hearings on several resolutions, including the one put forward by the Diocese of Utah and a similar one by the Diocese of Montana (where Brad Wirth now serves). I present the following texts from some of the testimony:

The Rev. Steve Keplinger, St. David's Page, read the following letter from Best Friends Animal Society as part of his testimony:

July 7, 2009

Greeting to delegates to the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church: For many years, Best Friends Animal Society has worked to promulgate the philosophy that all animals are sentient beings that deserve both our respect and the right to be treated as individuals.

Appreciating that the interaction between companion animals and people provides a special connection with creation as a whole, and further appreciating that companion animals provide assistance and emotional therapy to those in need, Best Friends Animal Society supports the resolution that the church embrace pastoral care and develop prayers to commemorate the life of companion animals.

While a broken bond between a companion animal and a person can cause a deep sense of grief, a spiritual acknowledging of that bond through an authorized rite of celebration, such as one we celebrate at our own Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, can help those who lose a companion animal to accept the loss and move on in their lives.

On behalf of the more than 200,000 supporting members of Best Friends Animal Society, we send our warmest support and thanks for your kind consideration of this heartfelt resolution.

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY

John Fripp

President, Board of Directors

Chief Financial Officer

And from the Rev. Mike Mayor, All Saints SLC:

I am here to testify in support of this resolution.

The pastoral dimensions of the loss of a pet cannot be understated. While the loss of a beloved animal affects any pet owner, the effect of such a loss is especially felt by children and the elderly.

For children the death of a pet is often their first experience of death. For the elderly, especially when otherwise alone, the loss of a pet can have the same emotional impact as the loss of a spouse or sibling.

Up to this point, clergy and families have found themselves bereft of adequate resources when faced with such a loss. When the loss results in a genuine pastoral crisis, the Church is often conspicuously silent, offering no contextual theology or practical care.

This resolution would help to resolve this void and bring comfort to many whose grief has gone unnoticed.

The Rev. Lee Shaw, St. Stephens West Valley City, and the Rev. Brad Wirth, Montanta, also spoke on behalf of the resolutions, but I don't have their text. They both emphasized the pastoral implications of the loss of a beloved animal companion. Two other speakers had with them therapy animals, Kona and Emily, who provided visual confirmation of the impact of these companions.

On another note, at the same hearing, I spoke in favor of a resolution that would authorize a study of the 1982 Hymnal to determine how it can better provide music for the Church.