Given that meat consumption connects with issues concerning global justice in relation to food, the compassionate treatment of animals, nonviolence, and health - all issues that the major religious traditions are concerned about, faith communities are a great place to take collective action on reducing meat consumption. Below are just a few examples of communities already doing so.

If you have a similar story, please contact us.

St Martin’s Community Church, Melbourne

For the last three or four years, parishioners at St Martin’s Community Church in Collingwood, Melbourne, have enjoyed delicious vegetarian lunches after worship. This is courtesy of George Vlamakis, who until recently has been a regular on the church’s lunch roster.

George is passionate about helping people to understand the impacts of their food choices, particularly their consumption of meat.  “Many people don’t realise the impact that a heavy meat diet has on the environment and on other people.  As one example, nearly half of the world’s cereals are used as animal feed – cereals that could otherwise be used to feed the world’s hungry.”  So whenever he is rostered on to cook (once every five weeks), George prepares delicious vegetarian meals for up to 80 people, such as vegetarian sausage rolls, Singapore noodles with tofu and veggies, and potato and cauliflower casserole with bechamel sauce.

George says that one of the barriers to people eating less meat is that they don’t know how to cook good vegetarian food.  “Vegetarian food is not about taking the meat out and leaving everything else the same.  When I was a student, I was lucky enough to live with a couple of vegetarians who were really great cooks.  I learned a lot from them, and I am keen to share what I know with others.”

Through his cooking ministry at St Martin’s, George believes that the church as a whole has become more aware of ethical eating.  “Other people on the lunch roster now provide vegetarian options, and church members have become more aware about ethical eating.”  So much so that, even though he has now moved cities, George believes that this awareness and action at St Martin’s will continue.