The Revd Jules Walker, Team Vicar in Uttoxeter Team Ministry, has been appointed Diocesan Vocations Officer in Lichfield Diocese. This reconfigured post embraces the work of a Director of Ordinands but also leads the work of encouraging vocations across the diocese, from all traditions and from among the great diversity of people living and worshipping in the diocese, to lay and ordained ministry and to the call of every person to service of God and others in the church. This can take many forms: from serving coffee and tea after a service, to embarking on deeper devotion in prayer and Bible study, to meeting others’ needs through serving the community or in authorised or licensed ministry. 
Revd Jules was an ideal candidate, with five years’ experience of working as a lay person encouraging lifelong learning in Liverpool Diocese before hearing a call to ordained ministry.
Her childhood faith was fanned into flame in early adulthood in the crucible of redundancy, combined with seeing exposed the need of the world for peace and reconciliation in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. It wasn’t long before she was appointed as Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning in Liverpool Diocese and then heard the call to ordained ministry in 2008. Living then in Chester Diocese, she has served in parishes there following her ordination as well as in Eccleshall and in Uttoxeter in Lichfield Diocese.
Revd Jeanette Hartwell, Director of Ministry said: “Jules has the breadth of vision, skills and leadership for this role. She can get alongside others and see the big picture of their life, and the church’s life as well as having the focus, patience and pastoral heart to walk alongside those testing their vocations to ordained ministry.”
Revd Jules Walker said: “I am excited to be combining my commitment to both lay and ordained vocations, drawing on my experience of working in industry, leading lifelong learning and in fourteen years’ parish ministry. I deeply value exploring the varied ways God calls his people to ministry, have a love for encouraging theological learning, and I look forward to this new post with real joy and anticipation as these different experiences come together in one role.”
"The Rt Revd Sarah Bullock, Bishop of Shrewsbury, and Sponsoring Bishop for the Diocese of Lichfield, who works with candidates in discerning their call to ordained ministry and oversees pathways of discernment and formation, said:
"This role sits at the heart of our hope and vision for Lichfield Diocese. Discovering our vocation is finding the joy and purpose of God’s call upon our life. Whether to lay or ordained ministry, to service within a local church, or to witness in everyday life, each vocation matters deeply. Jules own journey reflects the many ways God calls and leads us over time. She brings warmth, wisdom and I look forward enormously to working with her. As we continue seeking the Kingdom together, I know she will be a great encouragement and blessing to those exploring where God may be calling them next."
The Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield said: “I warmly welcome Jules to this new role. My prayer is that in giving attention to lay as well as ordained vocations Jules will contribute to a key objective of the diocesan strategy, Seeking the Kingdom, to provide a good pipeline of vocations. This is vital to the life of the church and to sustaining the growth which we seek and pray for and through which God blesses our communities and our world with his saving love.”