Gregory H. Rickel

The Rt. Rev. Greg H. Rickel is the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, where he supports The Episcopal Church in western Washington and its efforts to live out the new diocesan vision: to be an integral part of the Jesus Movement, by bearing witness to God’s redemptive reign and acting out God’s inclusive love, peace, and justice, uniquely living out this call within our specific local communities by being Locally Centered and Networked Communities, Forming Christian Leaders for Sacrament & Service.

Prior to this he was the Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, and before this he served as the Vicar of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Conway, Arkansas. He was ordained deacon in July 1996 and priest in January 1997. Before ordination to the priesthood he was a hospital administrator in Arkansas and Texas.

He has served the wider church as a Stewardship Consultant for the Stewardship Office of The Episcopal Church and for the Episcopal Network for Stewardship. He has served on multiple General Convention Committees, including Mission Funding Task Force, Standing Committee on Stewardship and Development, and The Church Pension Fund, and currently serves on the Program, Budget, and Finance Committee of The Episcopal Church, the American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem Board, the Association of Episcopal Deacons Board, the Gathering of Leaders Board, and is President of the Province VIII House of Bishops.

He was the Episcopal Representative to the Earth Charter Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, and was trained by Al Gore for the Climate Project. He received training from the National Organization for Victim Assistance and has worked on disaster debriefing for the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.

He is serving his second term on The Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees.

He received a DMin from the University of the South, Sewanee, an MDiv from the Seminary of the Southwest, an MHA from the University of Arkansas, an MA of Interpersonal and Organizational Communication degree from the University of Arkansas, and a BA in sociology from the University of Arkansas.