At this year's ACC-19, representatives of IASCUFO will report back to ACC Members on their work on The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals undertaken since the last ACC in 2023.
This compilation brings together various news items, broader commentaries, opinion pieces and responses to The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals.
What are The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals?
The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals are a theological document published in 2024 that asks a fundamental question: what does it mean to be the Anglican Communion today? The proposals lay out a framework for how Anglican churches around the world can deepen their unity, in service of "seeking to walk together to the highest degree possible".
The proposals were shaped by a diverse group of theologians and clergy from around the world who are members of IASCUFO (Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order), and were developed in response to a resolution passed at ACC-18, which commissioned IASCUFO to explore theological questions around "structure and decision-making to help address our differences in the Anglican Communion".
The original paper was published in Advent 2024, and in Lent of 2026, a Supplement Paper was shared, bringing some refinements to the earlier paper.
As ACC-19 convenes in Belfast (June–July 2026), the proposals are one of the items on the agenda.
To find out more about The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals and access the original 2024 paper, a 2026 Supplement with refinements, and an FAQ — visit the Anglican Communion website.
Anglican News Coverage
Anglican News has shared a number of news pieces about the proposals since their publication. The articles below trace the story from publication through to the eve of ACC-19.
Nairobi Cairo Proposals Published — IASCUFO Paper Explores Anglican Communion Identity and Vocation
Anglican Communion News Service, December 2024
The official announcement of the proposals' publication. Outlines both principal proposals, quotes from IASCUFO members including Bishop Tomlin and Katherine Sonderegger, and situates the paper in the context of the Communion's differences.
IASCUFO Communiqué: 'Facing Our Theological Differences More Productively'
Anglican Communion News Service, 18 December 2024
Reports on IASCUFO's Kuala Lumpur meeting (December 2024), held immediately after the proposals' publication. The commission sensed the Communion may be moving from "raw and antagonistic division" toward a longer process of resolution, and welcomed the GSFA's commitment to remain within the Anglican Communion.
How Can We Make Room for One Another? Bishop Graham Tomlin Reflects on the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Anglican Communion News Service, 6 November 2025
A reflective article by IASCUFO Chair Bishop Graham Tomlin, setting out the three core questions the proposals seek to address: how to strengthen bonds of unity, how to be honest about differences, and how to update the Communion's self-understanding in a post-colonial context.
Anglican Commission for Unity, Faith and Order Attend Papal Audience
Anglican Communion News Service, 16 December 2025
Reports on IASCUFO's December 2025 Rome meeting, during which the proposals were the major agenda item.
IASCUFO Communiqué After Rome Meeting
Anglican Communion News Service, December 2025
The full communiqué from the December 2025 Rome meeting. Reports that IASCUFO considered responses received since the proposals' publication, explored supplementary work for ACC-19, gave fresh consideration to the collegial ministry of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and reviewed proposals for amending the ACC constitution.
'Called to One Hope': Anglican Consultative Council Will Gather Anglicans from Around the World to Meet in Belfast, June–July 2026
Anglican Communion News Service, 19 February 2026
Preview of ACC-19, explaining that the proposals will be a major focus of the Belfast meeting, with daily sessions hosted by IASCUFO.
IASCUFO Shares Learnings and Supplement to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals in Preparation for ACC-19
Anglican Communion News Service, 2 March 2026
Announced the publication of the Supplement (March 2026). Explains the two refinements to the second proposal — the replacement of the "rotating presidency" with a collegial council of regional primates convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury — and links to the Supplement, FAQ, and accompanying film.
Church & Provincial Responses
There have been several responses published by Anglican provinces or church bodies.
Scottish Episcopal Church
SEC Responds to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Scottish Episcopal Church, 1 December 2025
A 15-page formal response. The SEC affirms the proposals' vision of the Communion as part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, but raises a number of questions: it criticises the "English focus" of the proposals' historical narrative, argues that basing Anglican identity solely on "historic links with Canterbury" is insufficient, warns that rooting unity in baptismal fellowship instead of full Eucharistic communion risks creating "an Anglican federation", and raises practical concerns about the rotating presidency proposal. Full PDF response available here.
Church of England — Faith and Order Commission (FAOC)
FAOC Theological Response to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Church of England / FAOC, May 2026 (full paper forthcoming)
The Church of England's House of Bishops met in York in May 2026 and commended FAOC’s response to The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals. An announcement in May said that the FAOC paper and an introductory reflection from the House of Bishops would be published in due course.
On the first proposal of The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, regarding the description of the Anglican Communion, the House believed that FAOC’s language – which would continue to emphasise the significance of eucharistic communion – would be the basis for further reflection in this area.
On the second proposal, which considers the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury among the primates, the House supported FAOC’s judgment that an open dialogue process among the Primates that does not presume any specific outcome would be welcome.
Read the news item about the House of Bishops meeting.
Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil (IEAB)
IEAB Formal Response to The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil, 7 December 2025
Brazil's statement praised the proposals' attempt to chart a path for postcolonial Anglicanism and their goal of a "more plural catholicity", while expressing concerns that weakening the Archbishop of Canterbury's role and introducing a rotating presidency could create confusion about who speaks for the Communion and open space for political disputes between provincial blocs. The full response has not been published as a standalone document.
Reported in: The Living Church — Brazil, Scotland Lukewarm on NCPs.
The Episcopal Church (USA)
The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals: Voices in Response from The Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church, February 2026
A 157-page collection of essays commissioned by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in March 2025 and produced jointly by the Ecclesiology Committee of the House of Bishops and the General Convention's Task Force on the Anglican Communion and Countering the Colonial Mindset. The essays range from supportive to critical, with no common mind among contributors. Official press release.
Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches (GSFA)
Archbishop Justin Badi Arama of South Sudan (GSFA chair) referred to The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals in a Pastoral Letter on June 11, 2026 which said: 'The Primates Council agreed when it met earlier this year to ‘engage for the time being with the IASCUFO Nairobi-Cairo Proposals’ and most GSFA Provinces will send delegates to the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Belfast (ACC-19) 27th June – 5th July at which these proposals will be debated. We shall approach discussion prayerfully and constructively, while recognising the reality of impaired communion and what that entails for eucharistic fellowship.'
Broader Articles & Commentaries
The following articles and essays, from a range of publishers, engage with the proposals from varying perspectives — from broadly supportive to more critical.
News Reporting
Proposals Call for Decentering Canterbury's Role in Anglican Communion
Mark Michael, The Living Church, 6 December 2024
The original news report introducing the proposals, covering IASCUFO's proposed "narrow revision" of the 1930 Lambeth description and the idea of a rotating ACC presidency.
Brazil, Scotland Lukewarm on Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Mark Michael, The Living Church, 17 December 2025
Reports on the first two formal provincial responses; also notes that IASCUFO had received (but not published) a response from the GSFA.
GSFA Primates Reaffirm Anglican Communion Ties
Mark Michael, The Living Church, 26 January 2026
Reports the GSFA communiqué confirming they are staying within the Anglican Communion.
Updates to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals Released
Mark Michael, The Living Church, 3 March 2026
Reports on the March 2026 Supplement: the shift from a rotating presidency to shared primatial ministry, and the proposal to eliminate the ACC President role. Notes the Scottish and Brazilian provincial responses.
Anglican Consultative Council to Consider Revised Nairobi-Cairo Proposals for Structural Reforms
Episcopal News Service, 5 March 2026
Covers IASCUFO's framing of the proposals as seeking common ground on "the nature of the church, the nature of the Anglican Communion", and the contested question of whether they can mend theological divisions.
Nairobi-Cairo Update Suggests Redefining Anglicanism
Premier Christian News, 3 March 2026
Describes the plans as an effort to "decolonise" power within the Anglican Communion.
Episcopalians Offer Responses to Anglican Standing Commission's 'Nairobi-Cairo Proposals'
The Episcopal Church (official), 9 March 2026
Announces the Episcopal Church's 157-page response volume, featuring 11 essays ranging from supportive to severely critical.
Nairobi-Cairo Proposals (Thinking Anglicans aggregator)
Thinking Anglicans, updated regularly
Ongoing aggregation of links to responses, commentary, and discussion threads from across the Anglican blogosphere.
The Living Church / Covenant Essay Series (February 2025)
In February 2025, Covenant (The Living Church's online journal) hosted a major series of essays engaging with the proposals from a range of perspectives. The full series roundup is available here. Individual essays include:
Living Church - 'Should the ACC Endorse the NCPs?' Series (June 2026)
Just before ACC-19, Covenant published three essays presenting very different answers to the same question:
Scholarly Essays
A Defense of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals (Op-Ed)
The Living Church, June 2026
Rev. Dr. Katherine Sonderegger (Virginia Theological Seminary) defends the proposals' eschatological ecclesiology, arguing that their "interim ecclesiology" is theologically appropriate to the Communion's present crisis.
The Wisdom of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals: A Response to Paul Avis
Andrew Goddard, The Living Church / Covenant, 16 April 2026
Andrew Goddard responds directly to Paul Avis's critique, defending what he sees as the proposals' theological wisdom and clarifying what Avis's analysis misses.
Critique of the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals
Paul Avis, Church Times & longer analytical paper, Early 2026
Paul Avis published a critique expressing that the proposals' ecclesiology is managerial and functionalist, ignores the centrality of eucharistic communion, and does not properly condemn schism.
'Voices in Response from The Episcopal Church' (Collection)
The Nairobi-Cairo Proposals: Voices in Response from The Episcopal Church (PDF, 157 pages)
The Episcopal Church, February 2026
A major collection of 11 essays and two pastoral reflections, ranging from supportive to more critical, by current and retired bishops, seminary professors, and parish clergy. Commissioned by Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe in March 2025. Contributors include members of the Ecclesiology Committee of the House of Bishops and the General Convention's Task Force on the Anglican Communion and Countering the Colonial Mindset.