I'd like to know. Because I'm a curious guy.

I can tell you why I am an Episcopalian. I like the whole theological style of this outfit. The Via Media. Balancing Scripture, reason and tradition. Maybe add to that common sense (though perhaps that falls under the "reason" category).

As to Scripture, it can be argued that we Episcopalians do not emphasize this sufficiently. We hear it read to us in the liturgy, which causes a somewhat choppy treatment of the text. And then the sermon explicates it to some limited extent. Frankly, that's enough for me. Weekly (and sometimes more often) bite-sized chunks. I grew up in a "fundie" church, where Bible texts are used to prove the most outlandish things without any tether to human reason. I don't want a church where I have to park my brain at the door and become a glazed-over yes man within. Don't beat me over the head with the Bible. I've had enough of that.

As for reason, I think any reasonable person can perceive that the path of the ethical and spiritual development of humankind is towards inclusiveness. Jesus constantly broke down the social codes of propriety and shame. He consorted with sinners and outcasts, and blew off the priestly caste. Jesus's approach foreshadowed the words Edwin Markham:

They drew a circle that shut me out -
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win -
We drew a circle that took them in.

The Episcopal Church in the United States stands proudly in the tradition of drawing the larger circle. Not long ago, the circle was expanded to include women clergy and Bishops. And the battle that currently rages in the Anglican Communion about gay priests and Bishops is about what we understand God's most basic message to be. I understand that message to be about love and understanding, which cannot exist in an environment where people are ostracized overtly or politely.

Finally, the tradition part of the tripod. I like the sacraments and the church year because they are, at the very least, mnemonic devices to keep me focused on a path that brings the divine into my consciousness on a regular basis. (And they are probably more than that, but I do not have much of a supernatural bent.) I also like hearing about great Christians from the past -- the Saints -- who exemplified the best things that our religion has done in the world, especially St. Francis and St. Benedict. Other "protestant" churches don't say anything about these people because for them there was a hiatus in "true" Christianity between 200 and 1600 AD.

I've probably said some igorant things here, not having any formal training in these matters. But I do have a great fondness for our Anglican and Episcopalian way. I'd like to hear what others have to say about it.