The Revd Preb Dr Jane Tillier was elected on 10th October to represent the West Midlands. She is one of eight women nationwide who will attend the House of Bishops as Regional Representatives.
Prebendary Tillier was elected by the West Midlands Regional Electoral College, comprising ten women from five dioceses: Worcester, Hereford, Birmingham, Coventry and Lichfield.  In a joint statement, the members said: ‘We met in a spirit of prayerful discernment, and had an open conversation about our hopes for the life and well-being of the whole church, listening attentively to each other, and to the Spirit of God. It was a privilege and joy to be part of it, and the constructive and optimistic conversation demonstrated that we are in a very different place from where we were at the time of the General Synod vote last year. We are grateful for the Bishops’ decision to admit eight women to their meetings and we recognise the opportunity this gives to re-imagine the Church.’
Commenting on her election Jane observed: ‘Our God is indeed a God of surprises! I am honoured and delighted to be entrusted with this regional role at such an exciting time in the history of the Church of England. My hope and prayer is that the presence of the 8 women reps at meetings of the House of Bishops will be good news both for our senior male colleagues and for the world we serve in Jesus’ name’.
Prebendary Tillier’s first meeting of the House of Bishops will be in in December.