[2] In the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to unemployed people in Rotherham, South Yorkshire".
A Service of Welcome into the Diocese took place at St Paul's Church, Bedford on 19 May 2012 at which Atkinson also preached his first sermon as a bishop.
Upon the announcement of his appointment as bishop, Atkinson said: "I am looking forward enormously to getting to know the diversity and depth of the communities of Bedfordshire and Luton.
I am enthusiastic to enable and equip the Church to reach out in love and service to our contemporary world, and committed to speaking up for the marginalised, poor and vulnerable.
[6] In 2023, he was one of 44 Church of England bishops who signed an open letter supporting the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (i.e. blessings for same-sex couples) and called for "Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy".