The Search is On - For a Bishop to Shepherd and Lead

/

Following the resignation of the Rt. Rev. Greg Rickels the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Olympia was set into motion to seek a successor to the office.  The timeline below marks the journey
2023

  • July 15, 2022 – Bishop Rickel announced his resignation.

  • October 6, 2022 – The Standing Committee announced the call of Bishop Skelton as Bishop Provisional.

  • October 22, 2022 – The Diocese of Olympia voted to place itself under the authority of Bishop Skelton during the Bishop Search period.

  • December 31, 2022 – Bishop Rickel resigns as Bishop of Olympia.

  • January 1, 2023 – Bishop Skelton begins as Bishop Provisional Designate in the Diocese of Olympia.

  • January 31, 2023 – Diocese of Olympia notified of Successful Canonical Consent, Bishop Skelton begins as Bishop Provisional in the Diocese of Olympia.

  • First week of March – Put out call for Search/Nominating Committee in diocesan newsletter

  • March 31 – Deadline for applications for Search Committee

  • March 31 – Choose Search Committee members

  • May 12-13 – Search Committee Organizing Retreat

  • June, August, September – Listening Sessions, Holy Cow Survey, Create Profile

  • October 15 (Revised Date) – Release Profile and begin accepting applications

  • October 20 – Put out call for Transition Committee in diocesan newsletter

  • November 15 – Candidate Applications Due

  • November 15 -January 15 – Search Committee reviews paperwork, conducts Zoom
    interviews, and narrows field to those candidates they want to invite to the Discernment
    Retreat

  • November 17 – Transition Committee applications due

  • December 1 – Choose and announce Transition Committee

2024

  • February 15-17 – Discernment Retreat

  • February 22 – Initial slate is presented to the Joint Board

  • February 29 – Initial slate announced to diocese

  • Week of April 29 – Meet and Greets

  • May 18 – Electing Convention at Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle

  • September 14 – Bishop Consecration

We are now at the stage of meeting the candidates and you are all invited and encouraged to participate
You can find the nominee profiles here. Consider participating by:

  • Submitting to the committee members organizing the gatherings any questions to consider including in the program*

  • Attending the Meet & Greets in person

  • Watching the livestream or recorded sessions online

Although registration is not required, in-person hosts request that you register in advance for the Meet & Greets so that host locations can plan accordingly.* 
The nominees will be present in person as follows:

  • Monday, April 29: St. Stephen’s, Longview (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)

  • Tuesday, April 30: St. Mary’s, Lakewood (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)

  • Wednesday, May 1: Grace, Bainbridge (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)

  • Thursday, May 2: St. Thomas, Medina (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)

  • Friday, May 3: Clergy Luncheon – Epiphany, Seattle (details in clergy emails)

  • Friday, May 3: St. Paul’s, Bellingham (7:00 pm-9:00 pm)

We have passed the April 3, deadline to submit questions to the transition committee.  You are welcome to share your questions and concerns with our Rector, The Rev. Beth Echols, sberector@gmail.com or our Convention Delegates: Jan Akin janakin2@comcast.net or Mike Akin mstarinakin@gmail.com