As was the custom for bishops of Cambrai, he went to receive investiture with the symbols of his office from the Emperor Henry IV in July.
[1][2] In the spring of 1077 Gerard travelled to Rome to plead his case to Pope Gregory, claiming that he was unaware that his investiture was irregular.
Gregory refused to meet him, but ordered his legate, Bishop Hugh of Die, to call a regional council at Autun to decide the case.
[1] Although many of the priests of the cathedral chapter were kinsmen of Gerard, they were also guilty of simony and nicolaitism and strongly resisted the bishop's efforts to promote the Gregorian reform.
[1] In 1082, the pope ordered him to admonish the count of Flanders against supporting Lambert of Bailleul, the bishop of Thérouanne, who had been deposed and excommunicated for simony and apostasy.
[1] Gerard also dealt with the heretic Ramihrd, who is only mentioned by name in the Chronicon sancti Andreae castri Cameracesii (Chronicle of Saint-André du Cateau), written by an anonymous monk around 1133.