Episcopalians may make private confessions to a priest and indeed some should, but private confession is not obligatory in the Episcopal Church. A general confession of sins is part of each Eucharist. The great Christian writer C.S. Lewis came to make private confession a part of his Christian life as he grew in his faith. We would do well to follow his lead. Ordination to either the diaconate or the priesthood is a recognition by the community that such persons have been called by God to an ordained ministry.
Bishops do the ordaining.
Ordained clergy may be either men or women, and they may marry and have children. This means that we recognize that God is always working in the world, and we value our God-given intellect. Instructed by Scripture and Tradition, we wrestle with the issues of living together on earth, and we recognize that there are no easy answers. This is why Episcopalians often disagree on things such as interpretation of Scripture or social issues. But for all our points of view on a wide range of issues, we confess the Nicene Creed together and we gather at the Lord's Table, which is the symbol of the unity we have.