Bishop Greg Rickel has announced his resignation as Bishop of Olympia, effective at the end of 2022.

Resignation Statement from Bishop Greg Rickel

Greetings Diocese of Olympia and all who may be watching.

I come to you today to share some of my personal plans for the future, but they are plans that will definitely affect all of you. Of course, I’d like to be sitting right with every one of you when I tell you this, but alas we know that’s not possible.

Most of you will remember the Walk Agains we did a few years ago as I discerned, and then we together discerned if it was time for me to go. That year was absolutely life changing to me and enlightening. I was humbled and called by the answer I received from that process and I’m so glad we did it. Back then little did we know that we would face a global pandemic, a long overdue racial reckoning, a refugee crisis like never before, and of course, all of that has changed us as a people and as a church. Changed me too. I said to you, after my decision to stay, that I wouldn’t do that to you again. We would take it one day at a time and one year at a time. But since that time, I’ve been in constant discernment as to what is right.

In the past few months, I’ve been in serious self-discernment again. Both friend and foe alike have helped in this giving me signs knowingly and unknowingly that the time has come for me to go. And I feel that as well. So today I come to you this way to a people and a place I love very much to announce my resignation from the office of Bishop effective the end of this calendar year. The plan now is that the fourth Sunday of Advent will be my last liturgical act. If the Standing Committee and other leadership agree, I’ll also see the January Holy Land Pilgrimage through as the real ending, as that still stands as unfinished business from the pandemic.

Until that time I plan to keep serving as your Bishop, something I’ve always taken very seriously and tried to do well. I’ve failed at much of it and will continue to, but always, always I’ve been so honored to fill the office for you and even though I didn’t always make the mark, I can assure you for you I was always trying my best. I’ve come to a decision that my best is no longer enough and that it changes exactly what you and quite frankly I need.

Now, I’m quite sure some of you have many questions. I’m not going to try to answer all of those now and some I may never be able to answer but I do want to address a few here. First, you may be wondering what I will be doing. Well, I’m heading to some different things, not totally firmed up and not totally disclosable at this time. However, when they are, I will be as transparent as possible. I can tell you, I will be physically leaving the diocese which I’ve always promised. You may remember in the Walk Abouts when asked about leaving at 12 years and me being so young which I’m not totally feeling right now and someone would ask, what will you do? I would often reply. There’s always bartending in Key West. Not going to quite get there, but I’m going to get close.

Another question would be why not stay until the new Bishop is here? And yes, that was a big decision. Several points on that, first, I’m going to something else, and I have to get to that. But also, and I really think this is primary, I’m not sure I believe in the long goodbye and the lame duck weight that that portends. I think there’s a lot of health in you. And when that’s true, having the interim and a transitional time, totally without me present I believe will be a very good thing. I know not all agree with that, but it’s one of the final decisions I’ve made. 15 years has been a good run and it is 15-year mark that is about the time many episcopacies start heading South or start getting stale and uncreative. A few have suggested that’s already happened. So instead of waiting for that I’m going to literally head South. It’s also a time where the danger of coasting which I’ve always told you, I do not want to do nor do I want that for you, can start. I also said I would leave if I ever stopped having fun. And I want you to hear this and I want to state it as clearly as I can. I have not stopped having fun but I’m having a bit less energy for some of the tasks than I once did. When I felt that coming on, I really thought it was better for you to have someone that doesn’t lack that. In short, I’ve always wanted to leave long before we were all waiting for it to happen. I think that time has come.

I’ve already informed your Standing Committee as it now becomes their task to oversee on your behalf this transition. At that meeting, which occurred last week when I announced this to them, we had Bishop Todd Ousley present with us. Bishop Ousley is the Presiding Bishop for Pastoral Development and the one in charge of transitions such as this. And he has already been working with me and with them on the work ahead for transition. Additionally, Bishop Ousley is already at work on an interim Bishop and coverage for the future. In short, you are in very good hands and in a very good place.

I told my executive staff on June 30th and then the rest of the staff, the clergy, and the governing bodies yesterday. And now I tell all of you. I just want to say here that this is the greatest staff I’ve ever had the honor to work with. And I include all of those I’ve worked with since the very beginning. Every one of them, talented, faithful, committed. And the clergy we have here, which I have truly grown to love, admire and be in awe of will be indeed hard to leave. We have some of the best leadership in this entire church. They all taught me much. I’ll miss them all very much and I will miss all of you. We didn’t always get it right, no one does. But I do believe we did some good work in ministry in this last 15 years. And those memories, those learnings, those accomplishments will always be some of the most cherish years in my life. This transition will be hardest, I think on the staff and clergy, so I ask that you take care of them now and always.

So, thank you, Diocese of Olympia bless you. And I urge you to start your prayers for a smooth transition and for your next Bishop who’s out there somewhere, even now. I’m convinced they are praying about, and for you I hope you will do the same for them. If you have space in there, pray for us too as we will for you. This is a new adventure for Marti and me. We are sad and nervous and excited. You and I will share those feelings together in the months to come. I look forward to it. Thank you all and bless each and every one of you.

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

Bishop Greg Rickel

The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel was elected bishop on May 12, 2007, and became the eighth Bishop of Olympia in September 2007. He embraces radical hospitality that welcomes all, no matter where they find themselves on their journey of faith. He envisions a church that is a safe and authentic community in which to explore God’s infinite goodness and grace as revealed in the life and continuing revelation of Jesus Christ.

Church of the Redeemer

Church of the Redeemer: Worshiping God, living in community, and reaching out to the world around us. We are an Episcopal Church serving north King County and south Snohomish County, Washington. As you travel your road, go with friends walking the way of Jesus at Redeemer.

Church of the Redeemer is at 6210 Northeast 181st Street in Kenmore, Washington. The campus is a short distance north of Bothell Way, near the Burke-Gilman Trail. The entrance looks like a gravel driveway. The campus is larger on the inside than it is on the outside. And we managed to hide a large building on the side of a hill that is not easily seen from the street.

The Episcopal Church welcomes you.