Any ideas or suggestions on how to search out more "liberal and all inclusive Episcoplal parishes?

Personally, I recommend the telephone survey...

'Phone all the Episcopalian churches in your region, (circling outward from the most convenient location) and ask a set of loaded open-ended questions. Keep good notes of the answers, 'cause by the time you've interviewed staff at twenty churches, you'll be a whole lot more skilled at interpreting the answers. I don't recommend identifying yourself in the process, because you can't be sure which ones are, figuratively speaking of course, the heretic-burning kind.

For example: "Please tell me about your social outreach programme....Who chairs the outreach committee and can I contact her?" Or "In particular, how do you accomodate ministry opportunities for working single mothers?" Or, "I'm looking for a church community where a homosexual can feel welcome" -- (Oh, do that one! I want to hear about the answers you get!!!)

Alternately, wangle an introduction to the Bishop's personal secretary. Diocesan staff tend to be among the more liberal members of the diocese, but if they *are* stuffy, go visit the church they complain about the most. Otherwise, take her advice.

Or, find out where the local Integrity chapter meets (they usually meet in the evening in a host church, but obviously the host church will *not* be the rigid right-wing kind.

Welcome to the board. Keep us posted.

--Pamela