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Bishop’s News – Special Edition: A Message from Bishop Rickel to the People of the Diocese of Olympia
A Message from Bishop Rickel
July 15, 2022
A Message from Bishop Rickel
Bishop Rickel reflects on his time as Bishop of Olympia and shares plans for the future.
A Letter from the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Olympia
Dear friends,
Rest assured that the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Olympia was informed of Bishop Rickel’s decision in advance of this announcement and already are proactively responding. The Standing Committee met with Bishop Todd Ousley of the Presiding Bishop’s Office of Pastoral Development to discuss best practices for transition in the Office of the Bishop. Our immediate goal is to reassure you that the parishes and missions in the diocese will continue to be cared for, individuals in our diocese will receive the pastoral care they need, and the work we as a diocese are doing to move forward will continue.
Your Standing Committee will prayerfully take the following steps with guidance from Bishop Ousley and the Office of Pastoral Development:
  • We will engage in discussions with possible candidates for a Bishop Provisional who will serve the diocese during the time between Bishop Rickel’s resignation and the ordination of the new bishop.
  • We will organize with the diocese the creation of a profile, the formation of both a search committee and a transition committee.
  • As a diocese we will ordain and celebrate the new ministry of the new bishop.
We are starting this work immediately and we anticipate this process to take 18-24 months. Our intent is to be transparent and open as we work through the process and to follow canonical guidance as we communicate information to you. We know this process will bring up a host of feelings and we will approach our part in it with great care and prayer.
Please know that your Standing Committee is working closely with the diocesan staff to plan a diocesan-wide “goodbye” for Bishop Rickel, with our gratitude and appreciation for his ministry to and with the Diocese of Olympia for the past fifteen years.
Faithfully,
The Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Ms. Vikki Day, President
The Rev. Canon Jennifer King Daugherty, Secretary
The Rev. Stephen Crippen
The Rev. Canon Elise B. Johnstone
Ms. Carole Loudenback
Ms. Tsuneko Nakatani
Mr. Lawrence Sylvester
Questions/Comments regarding the Transition Process should be directed to the Standing Committee.
Contact Info
The Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel
Bishop of Olympia
1551 10th Ave E
Seattle, Washington 98102
206-325-4200
206-325-4631 FAX
Diocese of Olympia | 1551 10th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102

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