The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel

Assisting Bishop, Diocese of Southeast Florida

Bishop of Olympia, Resigned

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

The Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel is Assisting Bishop, Diocese of Southeast Florida and the eighth Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia, Resigned. He also serves as the Coordinator for the Lightline Pilgrimages North America. As Bishop, he supported The Episcopal Church in Western Washington and in its effort to live out the 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.

Before this, he was the Rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Austin, Texas, and he also 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 the Episcopal Network for Stewardship. He has served on multiple General Convention committees, including the Mission Funding Task Force, the Standing Committee on Stewardship and Development, and The Church Pension Fund, and is currently serving on the Assessment Review Task Force and the Task Force on Creation and Environmental Racism of The Episcopal Church. He is currently Chair of the American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem Board and serves on the Cristosal Board and the Compass Rose Society Board.

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.

He was elected to his second term on The Church Pension Fund Board of Trustees in 2022.

He received a DMin from the University of the South, Sewanee, an MDiv from the Seminary of the Southwest, a Masters in Health Services Administration, an MA in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication, and a BA, all from the University of Arkansas. After being elected Bishop of Olympia, he was awarded an honorary DDiv from the Seminary of the Southwest, Austin, Texas. He is married to Marti Rickel, and they have one son, Austin.