As Bishop Anne has now to taken up her new post as Principal of the Queens Foundation, here in Church of England Birmingham we are prayerfully taking steps to discern whom God may be calling to be the next Bishop of Aston.

The appointment process follows guidelines provided by the national church. We anticipate interviews taking place over two days in late October with our newly appointed suffragan bishop joining us and taking up post sometime around Easter 2025.

To assist with the discernment process I have invited seven individuals to form an Advisory Group. Six of these are from CofE Birmingham and one, the Reverend Guy Hewitt, brings representation from the national church. Listed below are the names of these seven individuals who together form the Advisory Group.

Please continue to pray for Bishop Anne as she prepares to take up her new responsibilities, and for me and the Advisory Group as we endeavour to discern whom God is calling to the ministry and role of the Bishop of Aston.  

A prayer as we seek the new Bishop of Aston

Gracious God, we give you thanks for building your church and raising up faithful leaders to serve her. As we seek the new Bishop of Aston, we pray for the guidance of your Holy Spirit. For this we ask in the name of your son, our saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

Members of the Advisory Group for the appointment of the new Bishop of Aston

Dr Jan Smart, Diocesan Secretary, Church of England Birmingham
Rev Canon Dele Sotonwa, Vicar of St Boniface, Quinton, and Chair of the Birmingham Racial Justice Board
Rev Canon Kate Stowe, Vicar of St Peter's, Harborne 
Rev Geoff Lanham, Vicar of Knowle Parish Church 
Canon Sharon Palmer MBE, JP 
Rev Valerie Powell, Assistant Curate, Smethwick, Old Church
Rev Guy Hewitt, Racial Justice Director for the Church of England
 
With gratitude for your prayers,
 

Rt Rev Dr Michael Volland, Bishop of Birmingham