The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals is a theological paper, published by the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity Faith and Order, IASCUFO, in 2024. The paper makes recommendations for updating how the Anglican Communion describes itself to account for changes of the last century and to encourage a maximal sharing in leadership.
There is a more detailed explanation at this page on the Anglican Communion Office website: The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals.
Two Anglican provinces had published responses to the original 2024 paper.
IASCUFO itself has now published a Supplementary paper, making some changes to its original proposals. And there is also a FAQ document.
Papers from IASCUFO
The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals: Renewing the Instruments of the Anglican Communion
Frequently asked questions about The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Responses from Provinces
This is fundamentally a proposal for the Anglican Communion to abandon the idea that it is essentially a worldwide grouping of churches that are in communion with one another. There will no doubt be people who might champion that idea but it seems to me that there are very far reaching consequences of making such a change.
There are some Anglican churches that have constitutional requirements for being in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Case in point: Australia.
Tell Sydney diocese
Or does it just recognize the reality of the facts on the ground – facts that have been on the ground for a long time. That there are incommensurate streams of Christian belief and praxis at large in different parts of Anglican church life, and that these irreconcilable ways of trying to be Christian eviscerate the possibility of communion?
Striking that only two Provinces have made a formal response to these proposals. Is anyone listening?
So much circumlocution, not much sense to be made
Sorry, but as a lifelong member of The Episcopal Church, I have absolutely no desire to be in any fuller communion with churches that treat women or LGBTQ+ people as second-class Christians.
Why would anyone want to be in fuller communion with churches that discriminate? (Including, of course, the Church of England.)
So can we leave out the aspirational stuff about fuller communion? It is pernicious and deceitful.
Get behind me, Satan!
One reason to stay in communion with churches that discriminate is to show support for the many LGBTQIA+ people within those same churches. Attitudes to gender and sexuality issues in those churches is not monolithic, and there are many progressive voices as well as many more conservative voices. By choosing the difficult path of staying in communion it might help to strengthen those progressive voices. Only a few days ago archbishop Sarah posted on social media about meetings she had recently held with with women church leaders from across the world. There are similar connections within the sexuality context, but… Read more »
Even if one accepts that premise, which smacks of staying in an abusive relationship, one can remain in communion without aspiring to any fuller communion with churches that discriminate.
Jeremy, you are totally right. I was answering your second paragraph question, but that still has a cost. How do you stay in enough communion to help those still within the church, but keep sufficient distance to protect yourself from damage and abuse?
It’s a different balance for each of us. And if some people find it’s too difficult and walk away I am not going to criticise them. I handed back my own LLM licence to give me more control over my own exposure to the CofE, and am now more careful what I take on.
As a lifelong member of the CofE I believe you’re right Jeremy to frame it in these terms. The CofE for all its hand wringing and warm words is institutionally sexist, racist and homophobic. The saddest thing is for the most part its members do not share those attitudes.
This is a response from the Episcopal Church (USA) to these proposals – Voices in Response, from The Episcopal Church
It is a some 150 page pdf, but I found there were some significant and thoughtful essays written by people who think The Anglican Communion is an important part of our Christian identity.
i commend it to you.
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/VoicesInResponseFinal7II26.pdf?mc_cid=bec91208cc&mc_eid=708d59aad7