UU Animal Ministry of UUSM went before the board in June to request a Plant-Based/Vegetarian food policy when buying food and urged “Default Veg” for potlucks moving forward (90% plant-based/vegetarian). *We will touch more on the Default Veg/Greener By Default movement in a future article.
As a congregation committed to compassion, justice, and respect for the interconnected web of life, the UUSM Animal Ministry proposed that we commit to buying only plant-based or vegetarian food at church events, implementing a policy for the next year to see if this is an action of compassion we can maintain in the future. When organizing a potluck or other events for which people bring food, we would ask for 90% plant-based/vegetarian, minimal meat/eggs/dairy (since those do the most harm to the planet).
The Board unanimously moved to “empower the UU Animal Ministry of UUSM, following their comprehensive and thoughtful proposal, to engage the congregation in an approximately year-long Study/Action Issue of the possibility of the congregation adopting a green, vegetarian, and/or vegan commitment at congregational events to institutionally advance environmental, animal, and climate wellbeing in concert with our UU values which call upon us “to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation.”
Recently implemented change to Amendment 2 of the UUA Bylaws:
Line 22-26: Interdependence. We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it. We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality, and justice.
Other mentions in our UU principles:
Amendment 6: The goal of the world community is peace, liberty, and justice for all
Amendment 7: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
From The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica Church Policies Handbook:
C3.14: General Operations Policies: Procurement (Approved by the Board of Directors August 2008): We, as a church community, strive to follow UU principles and live in a sustainable manner, consciously lightening our footprint on the Earth and setting an example for others to follow. Church procurement decisions should be sensitive to environmental concerns, and consideration should be given to spending more money for products that will decrease our environmental footprint.
Other organizarions who have chosen to go fully plant-based or somewhere along those lines:
- Throop UU in Pasadena, CA, implemented only vegetarian/vegan food years ago when they discovered it was the right thing to do for the environment. UU Costa Mesa is currently working on implementing a policy that the congregation will only purchase vegan or “humanely raised” options.
- West Hollywood City Council went vegan in June 2024. Plant-based food now required at city events, meetings with support of PlantBasedTreaty.org
- The Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Critics’ Choice Awards have all made their events plant-based for environmental reasons.
- Food For Thought Program (AnimalPlaceFoodForThought.org): Advocates of nonprofit organizations extend their compassion by adopting a plant-based menu policy for events. If they’re helping animals, people won’t be eating them at their fundraisers or meetings.
More educational information will be coming over the next year to aid in this study/action that is taking place through June 2026. We’d like to hear your thoughts on this matter. Please send a message with your questions, comments, or concerns to animalministryoutreach@uusm.org
