Lead the Next Chapter of Transformational Racial Justice
“Good intentions” are no longer enough. The Church of England has long acknowledged its failure to become a spiritual home for all. The 2020 report From Lament to Action issued a direct call to move from rhetoric to real change. In response, the West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) was formed—a bold, regional collaboration committed to dismantling systemic racism and building lasting equity across Church structures.
This vision is rooted in our vision and in alignment with the recommendations of the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice.
Now entering a new phase, WMRJI seeks a Director to shape the next chapter of this pioneering initiative.
A Time of Reset and Renewal
WMRJI is a collaboration across the Dioceses of Birmingham, Coventry, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, and Worcester. This collaborative working hoped to take a strategic, long-term approach to promoting racial justice within Church life. Our mission includes influencing structures, supporting UKME/GMH vocations and building anti-racist cultures across the board.
In 2022, WMRJI received significant funding through the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Unit. As outlined in the original bid, this enabled the creation of a programme team, regional coordination, racial justice resources, and grassroots collaboration. Now, after critical reflection and evaluation, we are entering a restructure phase that centres sustainability, systems change and locally led empowerment.
WMRJI is implementing a strategic reset that expands the programme over 3.5 years, with revised funding of £1.94 million allocated for the 2025–2027 period.
Key shifts include the move from project-led delivery to embedded regional infrastructure, and the development of a more distributed model of leadership and accountability. As expressed in the bid, this is about embedding racial justice into the DNA of ecclesial life—not as a standalone initiative but as a permanent thread across practice, leadership, and community engagement.
Our Priorities
Key programme actions for the new phase include:
- Recruitment of a new Director to lead strategy and delivery from 2025 onward.
- Team restructuring to better align with diocesan needs and evolving strategic goals.
- Support for diocesan racial justice groups, including convening gatherings, building capacity in our parishes and leadership development.
- An 18-month systemic review to identify and dismantle barriers to UKME/GMH recruitment across the dioceses.
- A new diocesan grants programme to fund local racial justice innovation.
- Regular learning exchanges to share best practice and build collective wisdom.
- Annual reporting to the Archbishops’ Racial Justice Unit and other stakeholders.
As outlined in the bid, WMRJI will also provide toolkits and guidance for recruitment panels, support for and a strengthened community cross racial justice officers, clergy, and lay leaders. These practical tools will help shift institutional culture while addressing structural exclusion at every level.
WMRJI is committed to investing in long-term change, ensuring racial justice is not a temporary initiative but a permanent, embedded value across our ecclesial life. The next phase will build on the legacy of relational trust developed in Phase One, particularly across minoritised clergy and congregations who have felt historically marginalised.