Faith Network to be launched in Birmingham
Faith group representatives in Birmingham are set to come together for the launch of the city’s new Faith Network.
The Faith Network, a new forum for engagement between Birmingham City Council and faith groups and faith-led activity in the city, will be launched in the Banqueting Suite at the Council House, in Victoria Square, on Tuesday, September 1, from 6pm to 8.30pm. The event is open to all.
In addition to enabling faith group representatives to network and discuss opportunities to promote faith-based social action in Birmingham, the first task of the Faith Network will be to take forward the Faith Covenant.
The covenant, which was signed during a public launch event in December, is a joint commitment between faith communities and local authorities to a set of principles for working together, which aim to build trust and promote open, practical engagement on all levels.
The Faith Network launch event will also be an opportunity for those who have not yet done so to sign the covenant, plus sharing of good practice and stalls from different organisations explaining the work they do.
Councillor James McKay, cabinet member for inclusion and community safety, said: “When things get done on the ground in Birmingham, to make our city a better place, more often than not there’s a religious group, or religious individuals, behind it – so let’s grab the chance to join alongside all that energy. Faith has been driving our city forward far longer than the council, so from our side we need a bit of humility, to listen, learn, network, and plan together.
“With the launch of the Faith Network, we can come together and work out the next steps for the Faith Covenant. We’ve agreed the core principles, so let’s crack on and put them into action.”
The Faith Covenant has been developed by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Faith and Society as a tool to facilitate partnership working between local authorities and faith groups.
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