Form to be filled out by employee as proof of childhood immunizations

Form to be filled out by health care provider for proof of childhood immunizations

Best practices for conducting a Virtual Annual Meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions

Guidelines for Conducting a Virtual Annual Meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions

The slide deck for the Clergy Wellness for Lay Leaders: Caring for Your Clergy During Covid Times.

In February 2020 the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church (TEC) adopted a Model DFMS (Domestic & Foreign Missionary Society) Vaccination Policy for Youth Events, and encouraged dioceses and Episcopal Institutions to adapt it locally. Our Diocesan Council established a task group to adapt this into a diocesan policy, which was approved at the July council meeting.

As part of that action, the Office of the Bishop has been directed to issue written and online communications to all congregations directing them to initiate the five policies; the due date for implementation is June 1, 2021.

Slide deck from the webinar Regathering Considered: Legalities and Practicalities, dealing with the coronavirus and re-opening church buildings. Webinar held on June 10, 2020.

Other Resources:

Slide Deck: PDF can be found at the bottom of this page.

Slide deck from Bishop Rickel's afternoon April 28, 2020 webinar on stewardship.

Slide deck from Bishop Rickel's morning April 28, 2020 webinar on stewardship.

Issued January 2, 2019

A printable PDF version of Bishop Rickel's Pastoral Letter on the Suspension of the Statute of Limitations for Clergy Sexual Misconduct. The letter can be accessed in English and Spanish.

 

The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer included here is structured to include all congregations, clergy and staff, the ministries and committees of the Diocese of Olympia. It is updated annually.

A PDF of the Cycle of Prayer for 2024 and 2025 is linked at the bottom of this page.

December 2024 (Eastside)

12/01/2024 – First Sunday of Advent

• All Saints’, Bellevue
• Holy Apostles, Bellevue

12/08/2024 – Second Sunday of Advent

• Resurrection, Bellevue
• St. Michael and All Angels, Issaquah

12/15/2024 – Third Sunday of Advent

• St. John’s, Kirkland
• St. Thomas, Medina
• Emmanuel, Mercer Island

12/22/2024 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

• Holy Cross, Redmond
• St. Clare’s, Snoqualmie

12/29/2024 – First Sunday after Christmas

• St. Margaret’s, Bellevue
• Good Samaritan, Sammamish

 

 

January 2025 (Eastside)

1/5/2025 – Second Sunday after Christmas

• All Saints’, Bellevue
• Holy Apostles, Bellevue
• Good Samaritan, Sammamish

1/12/2025 – First Sunday after the Epiphany

• Resurrection, Bellevue
• St. Michael and All Angels, Issaquah

1/19/2025 – Second Sunday after the Epiphany

• St. John’s, Kirkland
• St. Thomas, Medina
• Emmanuel, Mercer Island

1/26/2025 – Third Sunday after the Epiphany

• Holy Cross, Redmond
• St. Clare’s, Snoqualmie
• St. Margaret’s, Bellevue

 

February 2025 (Evergreen)

2/2/2025 – Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

• Misa Guadalupe, Renton
• St. John’s Sudanese, Tukwila

2/9/2025 – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

• St. James, Kent
• St. George, Maple Valley
• St. Luke’s, Renton

2/16/2025 – Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

• Good Shepherd, Federal Way
• St. Columba’s, Kent

2/23/2025 – Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

• St. Matthew’s/San Mateo, Auburn
• St. Michael’s, Auburn
• St. Elizabeth’s, Burien

 

March 2025 (Holy C)

3/2/2025 – Last Sunday after the Epiphany

• Trinity, Seattle
• Apostles (COTA), Seattle

3/9/2025 – First Sunday in Lent

• St. Paul’s, Seattle
• St. Peter’s, Seattle

3/16/2025 – Second Sunday in Lent

• St. John the Baptist, West Seattle
• Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle

3/23/2025 – Third Sunday in Lent

• Ascension, Seattle
• Epiphany Seattle

3/30/2025 – Fourth Sunday in Lent

• St. Clement of Rome, Seattle

 

April 2025 (Mount Baker)

4/6/2025 – Fifth Sunday in Lent

• St. Stephen’s, Oak Harbor
• St. James, Sedro Woolley

4/13/2025 – Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday

• St. Paul’s, Mount Vernon
• La Inglesia Episcopal de la Resureccion, Mount Vernon

4/20/2025 – Easter Day

• St. David’s, Friday Harbor
• Grace, Lopez Island

4/27/2025 – Second Sunday of Easter

• Christ Church, Anacortes
• St. Paul, Bellingham

 

May 2025 (Peninsula)

5/4/2025 – Third Sunday of Easter

• St. Antony of Egypt, Silverdale
• St. Nicholas, Tahuya

5/11/2025 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

• St. Bede’s, Port Orchard
• St. Paul’s, Port Townsend
• St. Luke’s, Sequim

5/18/2025 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

• St. John’s, Gig Harbor
• Faith, Poulsbo
• St. Andrew’s, Port Angeles

5/25/2025 – Sixth Sunday of Easter

• Grace, Bainbridge Island
• St. Barnabas, Bainbridge Island
• St. Paul’s, Bremerton

 

June 2025 (Rainier)

6/1/2025 – Seventh Sunday of Easter

• St. Andrew’s, Tacoma
• St. Luke’s Memorial, Tacoma

6/8/2025 – Day of Pentecost

• Christ Church, Tacoma
• Holy Family of Jesus, Tacoma

6/15/2025 – First Sunday after Pentecost

• Christ Church, Puyallup
• St. Matthew’s, Browns Point/Tacoma

6/22/2025 – Second Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Joseph-St. John, Lakewood
• St. Mary’s, Lakewood

6/29/2025 – Third Sunday after Pentecost

• Holy Spirit, Vashon
• All Saints, Tacoma
• All Saints Goshen, Tacoma

 

July 2025 (Sno Isle)

7/6/2025 – Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

• St. John’s, Snohomish

7/13/2025 – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Augustine’s in-the-Woods, Freeland
• St. Philip’s, Marysville

7/20/2025 – Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Hilda St. Patrick, Edmonds
• Trinity, Everett

7/27/2025 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Aiden’s, Camano Island
• Transfiguration, Darrington

 

August 2025 (Willapa)

8/3/2025 – Eighth Day after Pentecost

• St. David of Wales/San David de Gales, Shelton

8/10/2025 – Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Christopher’s, Olympia
• St. John’s/San Juan, Olympia

8/17/2025 – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Mark’s, Montesano

8/24/2025 – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Germain, Hoodsport
• St. Benedict’s, Lacey

8/31/2025 – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Andrew’s, Aberdeen
• St. Hugh of Lincoln, Allyn

 

September 2025 (Ministries & Institutions)

9/7/2025 – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Brotherhood of St. Andrew
• The Order of Saint Francis
• Earth Ministry

9/14/2025 – Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Community of the Paraclete
• Little Sisters of St. Clare
• The Third Order Society of St. Francis

9/21/2025 – Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Episcopal Retirement Communities
• Episcopal Mission to Seafarers
• Seattle Service Corps

9/28/2025 – Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Huston Camp & Conference Center, Gold Bar
• St. Andrew’s House, Union
• Refugee Resettlement Office
• Chaplains on the Harbor, Montesano

 

October 2025 (Ministries & Institutions)

10/5/2025 –Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Retired clergy, clergy widows/widowers, and clergy households of the diocese
• Our Bishop and the bishop’s staff
• All Commissions, Committees & Programs of the Diocese

10/12/2025 – Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Diocesan Council
• Board of Directors
• Standing Committee

10/19/2025 – Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

• Annie Wright School, Tacoma
• Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma
• The Table: University of Washington Episcopal Campus Ministry

 10/26/2025 – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

• Underhill House, Seattle
• Center for Spiritual Development
• St. James Family Center, Cathlamet

 

November 2025 (Be Attitudes)

11/2/2025 – All Saints/Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

• St. David Emmanuel, Shoreline

11/9/2025 – Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Dunstan’s, Shoreline

11/16/2025 – Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

• St. Luke’s, Seattle
• St. Stephen’s, Seattle

11/23/2025 – Last Sunday after Pentecost

• Christ Church, Seattle
• St. Andrew’s, Seattle

11/30/2025 – First Sunday of Advent

• St. Alban’s, Edmonds
• Redeemer, Kenmore

 

December 2025 (Columbia)

12/7/2025 – Second Sunday of Advent

• Good Shepherd, Vancouver
• St. Luke’s/San Lucas, Vancouver

12/14/2025 – Third Sunday of Advent

• St. Stephen’s, Longview
• St. Peter’s, Seaview
• St. Anne’s, Washougal

12/21/2025 – Fourth Sunday of Advent

• St. James, Cathlamet
• St. Timothy, Chehalis
• All Saints’, Vancouver

12/28/2025 – First Sunday after Christmas

• Holy Spirit, Battle Ground
• St. Matthew’s, Castle Rock

The following are guidelines regarding the carrying of concealed firearms by staff and volunteers on Church property while an individual is acting as a volunteer or staff person for the Church.

The following are guidelines regarding the carrying of concealed firearms by members of the public and the congregation on Church property.
 

A newsletter for border and immigration resources.

In addition, the following two Facebook groups offer other ways to connect:

"Cruzando Fronteras, AZ"
"Migration Spirituality"

These are a series of four videos created by Canticle Communications for the Diocese of Washington.
The speaker is Laura Stump Kennedy, a member of that diocese who used to be a paralegal with Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services.

One pair of videos (English and Spanish) discusses how to support those in danger of deportation.

The other pair (Spanish and English) concerns Knowing Your Rights.

The following plan outlines needs that community members may have during and following a large-scale immigration raid (such as a workplace raid by immigration agents) and identifies people or entities in the region who have volunteered to serve as primary leads in coordinating responses to those needs.

Notes from meeting on Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

This document describes the lobbying rules for churches. There are two parts, the first which provides the legal information and the second which has FAQs pertaining to this.

In an effort to help existing congregations think about and plan for financial stability and sustainability, here are some questions for congregational leaders to ask during their long-range planning meetings.

Staff organizational chart for the office of the bishop. Updated January 2023

These prayers have been collected for use primarily at church services on the Feast of St. Francis, usually the first Sunday in October, when many churches include a Blessing of the Animals. They are, of course, also appropriate for any service in which the theme is creation, the environment, justice, and/or compassion. In each section, several prayers are offered from which to choose.

This resource includes:

A Sample Service for St. Francis Day Animal Blessings
Short Prayers for opening and closing the service
Prayers of the People
Sermons/Ideas/Inspiration for Sermons
Hymns and Songs appropriate for a Feast of St. Francis Celebration
A Blessing of the Animals
Links to Websites

Diocesan policy on Eucharistic Visitors, also known as the Two by Two visitation policy.

Statement approved by the 1985 General Convention and the current policy for alcohol and alcoholic beverages at church functions in effect for the Diocese of Olympia.

Letter from Bishop Rickel concerning Episcopal school standards for the diocese.

Manual for responding to school standards

Suggested Diocesan Pastoral Care Polices and Procedures Guidelines

Worship Leader is a lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the clergy or other leader.  Most commonly this leadership is for the Daily Office, but  may include other services. Training occurs in the congregation, and if desired with assistance from diocesan leaders.
 
Note:  Lectors who read from Scripture during liturgies do not require a license.

Submit Application or Renewal Application Here: https://dioceseofolympia1551.formstack.com/forms/worship_leader_license

Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration. A Eucharistic Visitor should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if available, or other member of the Clergy in that congregation. Training may take place in a congregation, with assistance from diocesan leaders or through diocesan trainings when available.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Reserve Sacraments may not be distributed by a deacon or lay minister  within the context of a church service, whether weekday or weekend, when a priest is absent.

Specific requirements for this ministry:

1. Background check

2. Completion of Safe Church training

3. Understanding of the “Two by two” visitation policy

 

Applications and Renewal Applications may be submitted here: https://dioceseofolympia1551.formstack.com/forms/eucharistic_visitor_license

Eucharistic Minister is a lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist. Eucharistic Ministers may serve the wine and/or bread, as determined by the member of the clergy in charge of the congregation.

A Eucharistic Minister should normally act under the direction of a Deacon, if available, or other member of the clergy for that congregation.  

Training takes place in the congregation, by a member of the clergy or designee, and if desired with assistance from diocesan leaders.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Reserve Sacraments may not be distributed by a deacon or lay minister  within the context of a church service, whether weekday or weekend, when a priest is absent.
 

Application and Renewal Applications may be submitted here: https://dioceseofolympia1551.formstack.com/forms/eucharistic_minister_license

Document by Irene Martin on history and curriculum of Total Common Ministry

This document is to outline the process and procedures that are put into place when a complaint of sexual misconduct is made against a clergy person of the Diocese of Olympia.

2022 Mileage Reimbursement Rates

• The IRS reimbursement rate for business miles is 58.5 cents/mile
• The IRS reimbursement rate for volunteer miles remains at 14 cents/mile

Mutual ministry agreements between the vestry/BC and clergy regarding roles and responsibilities.

Gifts can come in a variety of forms to congregations. It is good to have a set of policies in place to guide decisions on accepting certain gifts that may be out of the norm. A gift acceptance policy can help a governing body when it has to refuse acceptance of a gift that either does not fit the needs of the congregation or would create a financial or legal liability. Many gifts of this nature might be able to be converted to cash before transfer of ownership to the congregation allowing for the intention of the gift to be met in supporting the church's mission.

This resource will help your congregation establish a Gift Acceptance Policy.

Mission Insite provides instant access to community information for your church via The MI System. Mission Insite provides desktop, web-based access to demographic data for a variety of geographic levels.Mission Insite registration information can be done by getting the login information from the Executive Assistant to the Office of the Bishop and then going to the following Mission Insite link.

This manual is not online. For further information or questions, please contact the Canon to the Ordinary.