The West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative (WMRJI) has appointed The Revd. Canon Douglas Machiridza and The Revd. Dr. Sarah Hayes as its new interim Co-Directors. Their appointment follows the departure of The Revd. Dr. Evie Vernon at the end of last year and marks a continued commitment to addressing racial justice across the region.
Revd. Douglas Machiridza has served as a parish priest and Area Dean in Handsworth, an area characterised by high levels of deprivation and cultural diversity. Having personally experienced the effects of racial and social injustice, he believes in the collective responsibility to challenge systemic inequalities. He said: “Embracing this role, I look forward to collaborating with our communities to address racial disparities and create meaningful, lasting change.”
Revd. Sarah Hayes, a parish priest in Birmingham, brings extensive experience in legal advocacy, church leadership, and community development. She is committed to ensuring that all individuals are valued and recognised for their contributions. Speaking about her new role, she said: “I’m excited to be part of a collaboration between six dioceses in the West Midlands as they work together to tackle the shared challenge of racial justice in such different contexts.”
The WMRJI is a three-year project funded by the National Church Racial Justice Unit, working across six Church of England dioceses: Hereford, Birmingham, Coventry, Lichfield, Worcester, and Gloucester to dismantle systemic racial barriers within the Church.
For further information, please contact: The West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative