Bishop Rickel regularly travels across Western Washington to visit congregations and participate in diocesan events and activities, including celebrations of new ministry, ordinations, pastoral visitations, and other special or noteworthy events.

A visitation is the bishop’s official pastoral visit to a congregation of the diocese. Canon law requires every diocesan bishop to visit every congregation in his or her diocese at least once every three years. The canonical purposes of a visitation are for the bishop to examine the condition of the congregation, oversee the clergy, preach, confirm, preside at the Eucharist, and examine parochial records. The BCP also assumes that the bishop’s visitation will be an occasion for baptism, and that the bishop will preside.

During Bishop Rickel’s sabbatical, Bishop in Residence Brian Prior will visit congregations and participate in diocesan events and activities.