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West Midlands (WM) Region Churches Forum

The primary purpose of the WMRCF is to enable the Churches of the region to contribute to the agenda of Regional Government, in particular Regional Assembly and other Regional bodies, such as Advantage West Midlands (the Regional Development Agency), Government Office, Regional Action West Midlands and the West Midlands Faith Forum.
The WMCRF meets three times a year and draws together senior representatives of the Christian denominational areas across the region along with representatives of regional church networks such as Ecumenical Officers, West Midlands Industrial Mission, Faithworks, and Social Responsibility.
The last three meetings of the Forum has included the following:
circle Dialogue with government/regional government:

  • Government's consultation on the Third Sector with members of Cabinet office and Treasury.
  • Refugee and asylum seekers with the Director of the West Midlands Strategic Partnership for Asylum and Refugee Support (WMSPARS).
  • Integration and cohesion with a West Midlands Commissioner from the Commission on Integration and Cohesion (who reported in mid-June).
  • The role of churches in the voluntary sector with the Director of Regional Action West Midlands.
circle Issues of common interest to WMRCForum members

  • The 'Faithful Cities' report.
  • Discussion about the contribution of the faith community to issues concerning refugees and asylum seekers with Shari Brown of Restore, project worker for Birmingham Churches’ Restore project.
  • Review of the WMRCF to strengthen its work.
  • Regular reports from Ecumenical officers relating to developments across the region.

The Forum is served by Revd Colin Marsh who acts as Secretary and helps to maintain the Christian presence and contribute to regional agendas by:
  • a) bringing to the attention of WMRCF key issues on the regional agenda,
  • b) networking across the region
  • c) attending regional consultations and conferences.
The Secretary links with Churches Together in England through the Churches Regional Network; contributes to the Executive meetings of the West Midlands Faith Forum; and works closely with Regional Assembly’s faith representative.
circle Forum Chairman
The Most Revd. Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham (Roman Catholic)
circle Forum Management Committee
Chairman: The Most Revd. Vincent Nichols, Roman Catholic Church
Secretary: The Revd. Dr. Colin Marsh
Treasurer: Mr Patrick Kelly
circle Forum Membership
The Churches:
  • The Anglican Dioceses of Birmingham, Hereford, Worcester, Coventry and Lichfield
  • The Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham, Diocese of Shrewsbury and Hereford Deanery (Diocese of Cardiff)
  • The Methodist Districts of Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, Chester and Stoke-on-Trent
  • The West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church
  • The Heart of England Baptist Association
  • The West Midland Division of the Salvation Army
  • The Warwickshire Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends
  • The Greek Orthodox Church
circle Church Networks
  • West Midlands Industrial Mission Association
circle Forum Representation
Representatives from the Forum are on the following bodies:
  • Regional Action West Midlands
  • West Midlands Life Cultural Consortium
  • The West Midlands Rural Network
  • West Midlands Faith Forum
  • The WMRCF is represented on the West Midlands Regional Assembly through the Chair of the West Midlands Faith Forum
circle Contact
All Saints House 172 Herbert Road Small Heath Birmingham B10 0PR
Forum Secretary: Revd. Dr. Colin Marsh Email: office@wmchurches.org.uk
Telephone 0121 766 5522
Office Hours The Office is open 9am-4pm Monday-Friday. An answer phone will take any phone message at other times and someone will get back to you as soon as is possible.
circle Meetings
2007 Forum dates:
  • Wednesday 7 February to be held in Telford
  • Thursday 7 June to be held in Coventry
  • Tuesday 16 October to be held in Birmingham