

ABOUT US
The Compassion Consortium is a non-sectarian and interfaith religious center. We offer spiritual guidance, support, and fellowship to Vegans, vegetarians, animal rights activists, animal lovers, and all humans who care about and advocate for animals and the planet. We recognize that many people do not see their deeply rooted compassion for all creatures reflected in houses of worship; some have even left faith traditions after seeing these innocent, loving beings excluded from the level of mercy they deserve; in many cases, they're even denied the possession of a soul.
The Compassion Consortium is here to supplement this "missing piece" for persons who are part of another religious or spiritual community, and those who are not. We welcome participants of all faiths or none. Our regular monthly service takes place on Sunday afternoons, 4 pm U.S. Eastern Time, to avoid interference with most church, synagogue, temple, or mosque services. While we encourage Compassion Consortium membership for those so moved, this is not a "join up required" kind of organization: we're here to serve you, the companion animals you care about, as well as all exploited, abused, and endangered animals, and the fragile ecosystem of planet Earth.
Our Sunday programs, offered via Zoom, feature either a solo presentation or panel discussion with experts from various religious and philosophical traditions who share the conviction that all living kind, and the planet itself, deserve respect, justice, and loving kindness. Each service also includes elements of traditional worship services and the opportunity to personally express faith, gratitude, and celebration to the degree that each individual wishes to participate.
The Consortium also hosts additional events, classes, and interest groups (such as the Book and Film Events), and offers services including pastoral counseling and companion animal grief counseling, animal chaplaincy, and animal Reiki. Our website itself is an ever-renewing resource for information about inclusive spirituality. The Compassion Consortium celebrates diversity and operates with an inviolable anti-racist and anti-speciesist ethic. While our ministry is global, we are based in New York City, where we are organized as a non-for-profit religious corporation.
The cofounding members of our Leadership Team are available for speaking engagements and media interviews; please contact us.
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Reverend William Melton
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Reverend Sarah Bowen
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Victoria Moran, CHHC(AADP), RYT
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Reverend Erika Allison
This team is supported by our interfaith Advisory Board.

Interfaith. Interspiritual. Interspecies
Our Interspecies Support Practices
Animal Chaplaincy
As animal chaplains, Reverends Sarah and William provide a variety of services for the Compassion Consortium community, including:
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interspecies practices instruction
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birth and adoption/welcoming blessings
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birthday celebrations
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companion animal "commitment ceremonies"
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prayers for sick and injured animals
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support during surgery or euthanasia
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grief support and recovery following the loss of a companion animal
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memorial services and loss rituals
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support for animals in shelters and sanctuaries
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advocacy for animals suffering abuse and harm at the hands of humans.
For a description of the role of and services provided by an animal chaplain, and to learn about the Compassion Consortium's Animal Chaplaincy Training Program, click here.
Animal Reiki
Reverend William offers animal Reiki spiritual healing energy services as part of his Ministry, as described in his bio on the Spiritual Team page. The term “Reiki” derives from the Japanese words “rei” and “ki” meaning universal life force or energy. Animal Reiki is a holistic, alternative therapy using Reiki spiritual healing energy to help nonhuman beings rebalance on the physical, mental, emotional, behavioral and energy levels. Companion animals, animals in shelters and sanctuaries, wildlife and distressed animals suffering loss, abuse, harm, pain and/or imprisonment can benefit from receiving Reiki energy healing. Reiki is often even more effective as a therapy for animals than for humans because they are inherently more aware of and sensitive to the energy fields around them.