I, too, was raised in the Episcopal Church (EC). My brothers were acolytes; my sister and I sang in the youth choir. I accepted Jesus as my Savior in an Episcopal Church Sunday School class. I owe my eternal life to the faithfulness of the people in my little Episcopal Church, as well as to the Lord who died for me. But I cannot tell you how I grieve for the direction this church has gone. I left it when I was in my early 20's and went to a non-denominational, charismatic church. I could never go back to the EC except to visit, but there were aspects of their worship services that move me to this day, especially the reverence they put into getting one's heart right before Communion, and the sense they helped usher into the services of the majesty and holiness of God (as I say, how far they've fallen).
As with you, I also had some interesting ministers. My first EC minister was a great pastor, but he was the only one about whom I can say that. Not one after him was someone I could cotton to. One was insulting and verbally abusive to me when I asked him to be a reference for me on my college application. I never figured out what got into him. He was a big, extremely obese, cigar-smoking, domineering man. He always frightened me but that day, I walked out of his office in tears and I never spoke a word to him after that unless forced to. When I got married, I refused to let him come near me, and had the associate minister perform the ceremony.
I don't see how the more conservative elements of the EC are going to be able to remain in the mix with the liberal elements. "How can two walk together, except they be agreed?"
I never had any problems with priests - until now. My priest is about my height and from Poland and runs around wearing "Proud Member of the Vast Left Wing Conspiracy."