Church leaders from across the West Midlands representing a range of traditions and ethnicities met together earlier in the month to pray together and encourage each other. They committed to working together to be a blessing to communities across the region, sharing the hope of Jesus and being a transforming presence through practical support.
In a statement released after the meeting, they said:
" We want to build our unity through prayer and mutual understanding se we more faithfully reflect our faith in Jesus Christ. Our call is to be more effective in blessing our communities in his name and sharing the reason for the hope that is in us. We encourage all our churches to engage locally and internationally, working with all of goodwill to contribute to the common good. In these challenging days of the cost-of-living crises, wars and climate crisis, we long to be a transforming presence, creating warm and safe spaces and living sustainably.
In a world that often seeks simplistic answers, we are called to hold the space for complexity and conversation across difference. We want that for our churches and we seek to be facilitators of that respectful dialogue in the wider community.”
The two-day gathering at the Woodbrooke Centre in Birmingham saw senior figures from a variety of denominations and networks, including the Bishop of Worcester and the Bishop of Dudley. Sessions between leaders saw them share the challenges and opportunities offered by issues including Covid-19, the Ukranian War and the cost of living crisis. The day was organised by Robert Mountford, Ecumenical Officer for Birmingham, the Black Country and Staffordshire.
Those who attended the meeting were:
- Bishop Joe Aldred ( Trustee/volunteer with the National Church Leaders’ Forum)
- Revd Adrian Argile (Regional Minister Team Leader, Heart of England Baptist Association)
- Rt Revd Sarah Bullock (Bishop of Shrewsbury in the Diocese of Lichfield)
- Pastor Dr Marcus Chilaka (Provincial Pastor for the Redeemed Christian Church of God)
- Revd Dave Ellis (Regional Minister, Heart of England Baptist Association)
- Pastor Eniiwaju Etomi (Assistant Provincial Pastor, Redeemed Christian Church of God)
- Revd Steve Faber (Moderator, West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church)
- Rt Revd Martin Gorick (Bishop of Dudley)
- Rhiannon Grant (Representative for Central England Quakers)
- Revd Novette Headley (Chair of the Birmingham Methodist District)
- Rt Revd John Inge (Bishop of Worcester)
- Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave (Bishop of Lichfield)
- Bishop Jonathan Jackson (District Bishop for the New Testament Church of God)
- Rt Revd Richard Jackson (Bishop of Hereford)
- Most Revd Bernard Longley (RC Archbishop of Birmingham)
- Robert Mountford (Ecumenical Officer for Birmingham, the Black Country and Staffordshire)
- Rt Revd Matthew Parker (Bishop of Stafford in the Diocese of Lichfield)
- Revd Rachel Parkinson (Chair of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury Methodist District)
- Lt Col Joao-Paulo Ramos (Divisional Commander, West Midlands Division, Salvation Army)
- Bishop Mike Royal (General Secretary of Churches Together in England)
- Revd Neil Le Tissier (Regional Minister, Heart of England Baptist Association)
- Rt Revd David Urquhart (Bishop of Birmingham)
- Pastor Nick Whittome (Regional representative for the Elim Pentecostal Church)
The full statement from West Midlands Church leaders said:
We met together in Birmingham to pray and encourage one another. We represent a range of traditions and ethnicities and rejoice in that diversity. We gathered united by our faith in Jesus Christ, the hope that he inspires in us and the love which motivates us to love in response. We sought in prayer to discern God’s word to us and the West Midlands area we love and serve.
We rejoiced in stories of growth, whilst realistic about the challenges of sustainability post COVID.
We want to build our unity through prayer and mutual understanding se we more faithfully reflect our faith in Jesus Christ. Our call is to be more effective in blessing our communities in his name and sharing the reason for the hope that is in us. We encourage all our churches to engage locally and internationally, working with all of goodwill to contribute to the common good. In these challenging days of the cost-of-living crises, wars and climate crisis, we long to be a transforming presence, creating warm and safe spaces and living sustainably.
In a world that often seeks simplistic answers, we are called to hold the space for complexity and conversation across difference. We want that for our churches and we seek to be facilitators of that respectful dialogue in the wider community.
