The supply clergy compensation rates for 2025 are as follows:

Sunday/primary liturgy* with preaching: One liturgy $323.10; additional consecutive liturgies $73.53 each.

Sunday/primary liturgy* without preaching: One liturgy $190.18; additional consecutive liturgies $73.53 each.

Weekday/evening liturgy: $125.47.

*Sunday/primary liturgy includes liturgies falling on other days that require significant preparation and duties, such as Christmas, Holy Week liturgies, parish feast days, significant Saturday or Sunday evening liturgies. Congregations and supply clergy should clarify for such liturgies when making an agreement for service.

Educational/Pastoral Duties (preparation and performance) minimum per hour: $37.58.

• Standard IRS business mileage rates and direct transportation costs, such as ferries, etc. shall be reimbursed.
• Reimbursement for lodging and meals must be negotiated in advance.
• Negotiation of rates below this minimum under special circumstances requires approval of the Bishop.
• These are minimum standards. Supply clergy and congregations may negotiate a higher compensation rate.
• Nothing herein precludes supply clergy from donating their services.
• Rate changes shall be tied to the annual COLA (3.8% passed in 2024 reflected above).

For additional questions please contact the Canon to the Ordinary, or 206.325.4200 ext. 2040.

This is the 2025 Parochial Clergy compensation schedule passed at convention. This document outlines clergy compensation based on congregational grade.

This is the 2024 Parochial Clergy compensation schedule passed at convention. This document outlines clergy compensation based on congregational grade.

Click here for the Spanish version.

Este es el calendario de compensación del clero parroquial de 2024 aprobado en la convención. Este documento describe la compensación del clero según el grado congregacional.

Haz clic aquí para la versión en inglés.

In March 2022, the Diocesan Council, upon recommendation of the diocesan Personnel Commission, froze congregation grades at 2022 levels through at least the end of 2023.

Congregational grades for 2023/2024 for parishes and missions. This refers to the congregation grade for churches which helps to determine clergy compensation and assessment values.  The congregational grade is updated every year. Those churches that are in bolded text have changed grades from the previous year.

Este es el calendario de compensación del clero parroquial de 2023 aprobado en la convención. Este documento describe la compensación del clero según el grado congregacional al precio a hora.

Haz clic aquí para la versión en inglés.

This is the 2023 Parochial Clergy compensation schedule passed at convention. This document outlines clergy compensation based on congregational grade at an hourly rate.

Click here for the Spanish version.

Este es el calendario de compensación del clero parroquial de 2023 aprobado en la convención. Este documento describe la compensación del clero según el grado congregacional.

Haz clic aquí para la versión en inglés.

This is the 2023 Parochial Clergy compensation schedule passed at convention. This document outlines clergy compensation based on congregational grade.

Click here for the Spanish version.

Un rito para la celebración y bendición de una santa unión (Opción 1).

Haga clic aquí para la versión en inglés.

For more information, please visit: https://wacaresfund.wa.gov/

Guidelines for reopening Diocesan House due to Covid-19

Immunization Policies adopted by Diocesan Council, June 24, 2021

Covid-19 Vaccination Policies adopted by Diocesan Council, June 24, 2021

An orientation guide for clergy in the Diocese of Olympia, with links to resources.

Este es un documento de recursos para el proceso de transición del clero.

Para apoyar mejor a las congregaciones en transición, la Oficina del Obispo se complace en ofrecer tanto una guía escrita de recursos para el clero en transición como recursos en video. Para ver la traducción al español, haga clic en el botón de subtítulos en el video:

• Así que usted está en transición: una orientación para la Junta Parroquial / Comité de Obispos
• Así que usted está en el comité de perfiles: una orientación para los comités de perfiles en la Diócesis de Olympia
• Así que usted está en el comité de búsqueda: una orientación para los comités de búsqueda de rectores / vicarios en la Diócesis de Olympia
• Bienvenido a la Diócesis de Olympia: una orientación para el clero nuevo en la Diócesis de Olympia

Estos videos, presentados por el obispo Rickel, ofrecen ideas y orientación sobre cómo aprovechar el tiempo de transición para ayudar a su congregación a llamar a un compañero en el ministerio mutuo, crecer espiritualmente y desarrollarse como líderes cristianos.

El documento de recursos enumerado contiene áreas que están cubiertas, que incluyen:

• transiciones
• clero
• Carta de acuerdo
• Carta de separación
• Provisional
• Comité de Perfiles
• Comité de búsqueda

Haga clic aquí para la versión en inglés.

This is the draft schedule for the Clergy Retreat May 2nd -May 5th.

 Schedule is subject to change. 

A short summary of the duties and responsibilities for a senior and junior warden of a chuch. The information is from the Vestry Resource Guide, revised by Nancy Davidge, editor, and Susan Elliott, writer —A Project of The Episcopal Church Foundation (www.episcopalfoundation.org)

This is a resource document for the clergy transition process.

To better support congregations in transition, the Office of the Bishop is pleased to offer both a written Transition Clergy Resource guide and Video Resources:

• So You’re In Transition: An Orientation for Vestry/Bishop’s Committee
• So You’re on the Profile Committee: An Orientation for Profile Committees in the Diocese of Olympia
• So You’re on the Search Committee: An Orientation for Rector/Vicar Search Committees in the Diocese of Olympia
• Welcome to the Diocese of Olympia: An Orientation for Clergy New to the Diocese of Olympia

These videos, hosted by Bishop Rickel, offer ideas and guidance about how to make use of transition time to help your congregation call a companion in mutual ministry, grow spiritually, and develop as Christian leaders.

The resource document listed contains areas that are covered including:

• transitions
• clergy
• Letter of Agreement
• Letter of Separation
• Interim
• Profile Committee
• Search Committee

Click here for the Spanish version.

Report on the results of the clergy wellness survey for 2020

Dear Clergy Colleagues and Lay Leaders in the Diocese of Olympia,

We have all been in conversations about how to record, assess, and track virtual attendance at our worship services during this time of being barred from in-person worship. Our communities still gather, but the medium and the available data about that gathering is starkly different from the data available to us when we could just count the number of humans in the building. Guidance from our bishop has been that Attendance, that is the number we write in our service books, means humans in the building. This means that for many of us weekly attendance has dropped to less than 10, and in some cases zero or one, depending on how and where we are conducting worship.

But we all know this number doesn’t reflect reality. The reality is our congregations are gathering in the best ways they can, and we are learning new ways to connect. As your Canon for Congregational Development, I see massive development opportunities in the midst of the discomfort and grief of this time. And – while we should not track our virtual attendance in the same medium or method that we use for in-person attendance, we should absolutely be tracking it. The Office of the Bishop has developed the attached form to assist us in tracking relevant numbers for our virtual services. You will see in this form a means to track the type of worship (Morning Prayer, Eucharist, etc.) and the type of virtuality (Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Pre-recorded, etc.). We have also included particular metrics for Livestreaming/Pre-recorded Premeire or for Zoom. You may keep these forms electronically, or print them out and make a hardcopy viritual service book with them. But please keep a record. We will ask you to share this data with us periodically, so that we can learn together about how church is changing, growing, and developing in this crisis and prepare for the world that will come next. While The Episcopal Church has not yet set guidelines for how virtual attendance will be reported on next year’s Parochial Report, this tool should be helpful in preparing for any changes that may occur.

VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE TRACKING FORM
 
If you are not sure how to find the metrics for the platform you are using, here are links to info for each:

FACEBOOK LIVE TRACKING
YOUTUBE LIVE TRACKING
ZOOM ATTENDANCE TRACKING

If you are using a different virtual technology or are finding different tracking metrics that have been useful for you, please let us know what you're discovering. And if you are still struggling after viewing the info at these links, please be in touch with our office – with Josh Hornbeck at jhornbeck@ecww.org or myself at anewton@ecww.org.
 
Friends, the work you are doing to step up and continue to convene, gather, form, and connect your people and your communities to God and each other is stunning. Let’s document this effort, and continue to learn and develop together.
 
With care and gratitude,

The Rev. Canon Alissa Newton

 

Here are the basic steps for approval if you wish to officiate at a wedding in the Diocese of Olympia and are not licensed or canonically resident.

Requests should be made at least 60 days prior to the proposed wedding date.

• Send a letter to the Bishop requesting permission. Include in this letter the answers to the following questions:

  • Your full name, current mailing address, and the name of your Diocese of residency

  • Names of persons being married

  • First marriage for both parties? Y or N

  • Has pre-marital prep been done? Y or N
    If Yes, by whom?

  • Are the parties connected to a Parish? Y or N
    If Yes, which Parish?

  • Which Parish service register will this be placed into?

  • Will the service have a Eucharist? Y or N

  • Will the service take place at a church? Y or N

• Submit a letter of good standing from the diocese where the requesting officiant is canonically resident.

Any further information, correspondence or questions should be sent to the Executive Assistant to the Bishop.

This is the document for liturgical resources for marriage that was presented to the 79th General Convention in 2018. It includes liturgies, guidelines, and recommendations for use in same-sex wedding ceremonies. The link for this is HERE.

To: The Most Reverend Melissa Skelton, Bishop Provisional
In accordance with the national canons: Canon III, 7b states: “Deacons shall report annually to the Bishop or the Bishop’s designee on their life and work.”

This annual report is for year ending 2022. Please download this form, complete it and submit it no later than March 16, 2023.

The supply clergy compensation rates for 2025 are as follows:

Sunday/primary liturgy* with preaching: One liturgy $323.10; additional consecutive liturgies $73.53 each.

Sunday/primary liturgy* without preaching: One liturgy $190.18; additional consecutive liturgies $73.53 each.

Weekday/evening liturgy: $125.47.

*Sunday/primary liturgy includes liturgies falling on other days that require significant preparation and duties, such as Christmas, Holy Week liturgies, parish feast days, significant Saturday or Sunday evening liturgies. Congregations and supply clergy should clarify for such liturgies when making an agreement for service.

Educational/Pastoral Duties (preparation and performance) minimum per hour: $37.58.

• Standard IRS business mileage rates and direct transportation costs, such as ferries, etc. shall be reimbursed
• Reimbursement for lodging and meals must be negotiated in advance.
• Negotiation of rates below this minimum under special circumstances requires approval of the Bishop.
• These are minimum standards. Supply clergy and congregations may negotiate a higher compensation rate.
• Nothing herein precludes supply clergy from donating their services.
• Rate changes shall be tied to the annual COLA (3.8% passed in 2024 reflected above).

For additional questions please contact the Canon to the Ordinary, or 206.325.4200 ext. 2032

Please go to the following site to generate a current list of supply clergy -> Supply Clergy Roster - The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia

Annual report for accounting of diaconal/priestly activity during a calendar year can be found HERE.

Policies for those working with children or youth

Guidelines for counseling centers connected to congregations.

Many Vestries and Bishop's Committees ask for help on procedures for counting and handling money that protects the congregation, its leadership and finance ministry persons when it comes to handling money.  A strong set of guidelines with transparent accountability is good stewardship and will make everyone more comfortable. 

This set of procedures for counting and handling money was developed by an accounting and a congregational auditing team.

The roles of the rector and the vestry.

This is a sample document to assist congregations in reviewing and/or establishing bylaws.  The congregation's chancellor should be consulted as part of the process of amending or establishing bylaws.

This is a document that may be used after the election of the new members of the Vestry or Bishop's Committee as new members are commissioned to serve in their elected position.  It is generally signed after the election and just before the commissioning as part of the commissioning.

This document is a sample of a Vestry/BC Covenant signed by all members of the Vestry or Bishop's Committee at the first meeting after election of new members to the Vestry/BC.  It establishes the norms of interaction between the members of the Vestry/BC and its work as a leadership and governing body of the congregation.

A suggested list of the types of policies and procedures that a vestry might have or want to have for their congregations.

Ubuntu Bible study method

A checklist for duties of the vestry or Bishop's Committee person of the month

Monthly schedule sample for Vestries and Bishop's Committees

A sample for a mission and vision statement.

Worksheet for discerning a congregations God-given Core Passions

ALL REMARRIAGE PETITIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE BISHOP AT LEAST 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE PROPOSED WEDDING DATE.

Remarriage petitions should be written by the presiding priest, not the couple.

ALL REMARRIAGE PETITIONS MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:

1 The full names of the parties to be married.
2 The names of the Episcopal congregations in which these persons are active members.
3 The names of former spouses.
4 The dates of final divorce decrees involved. (If you are satisfied that the previous marriage(s) has (have) been dissolved or annulled by a final judgment or decree, it is not necessary to submit copies of the divorce decree.)
5 If child support is to be paid, whether the person involved is current in payment.
6 A statement concerning the reason for the end of prior marriage(s).
7 A statement telling how and why this new relationship will be different.
8 A statement concerning the manner in which the couple intends to place God at the center of their marriage and home.
9 Assurance from the priest petitioner that he or she, after careful inquiry, is firmly convinced that the petition should be granted, including a statement of his or her reasons for this opinion (if they have not been covered in 7 and 8 above).

AGAIN, ALL REMARRIAGE PETITIONS SHOULD HAVE ALL NINE ITEMS ADDRESSED ABOVE.

For a second marriage, a waiting period of one year from the date of final divorce decree is normally required. If a lengthy separation (in excess of two years) has occurred, a six-month waiting period may be granted.

For third or more marriages, ending for any reason, including death, it is the expectation that counseling will be done with a Licensed Marriage and Family Counselor and the full report, or at least a letter on their letterhead stating the couples completion of counseling and if possible their opinion on the couple’s readiness for marriage, submitted to the Bishop’s Office. This means that you will need to plan far in advance to make sure that this can be accomplished. You may find a licensed counselor at www.AAMFT.org or call the Bishop’s Office.

Send all remarriage petitions to:
Bishop
The Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
1551 Tenth Avenue East
Seattle, Washington 98102

Marriage Celebration Agreement, provided by the Rev. Kathleen Kingslight

The Celebration and Blessing of a Covenant Relationship (Option 2)

A Rite for the Celebration and Blessing of a Holy Union (Option 1)

Click here for the Spanish version.

I Will Bless You, formerly known as A049 as passed at General Convention 2012

Policy on Same Sex Blessings in the Diocese of Olympia

Policy on clergy discretionary accounts from the “Manual of Business Methods in Churches”.  This is the policy that fits the national canon.

Report for retired and non parochial clergy listing services that have officiating at during the year

A sample letter of agreement between a deacon, the bishop and the assigned church.

A list of recommendations and clarifications by The Church Insurance Agency Corporation (CIAC) in regards to pastoral counseling.  Updated June, 2009.

These guidelines are for use by the requesting mission and the reviewing committee appointed by the Office of the Bishop

A document on how to discuss clergy compensation with the vestry or bishop's committee and wardens.

Diocesan policy regarding email, internet and social media use by church employees. This is now incorporated in the document Archives and Records Management.

Also known as the Clergy Handbook, Manual for Clergy in the Diocese, revised March, 2021.

This is a checklist for clergy with regards to appropriate use of church property.