The Scottish Episcopal Church has responded to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, which offer a revised definition of the Anglican Communion and suggest an enhanced role for the Primates’ Meeting together with a rotating presidency of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).

Background to the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals

The proposals arise from ACC18’s 2023 request to the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO) to explore structures enabling respectful differentiation in the face of disagreements within the Anglican Communion. These disagreements concern women’s ministry and, particularly, same-sex relationships.

These tensions within the Anglican Communion also reflect a long-standing theological diversity shaped by differing missionary histories. They reflect broader shifts in global Anglican leadership and local liturgical development since the 1960s. Although Anglicans have lived with impaired communion for some decades, current disputes—intensified by debates over sexuality and recent reactions to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s appointment—have sharpened questions about Anglican identity.

The SEC offers this response to the proposals as an enthusiastic and committed member of the Anglican Communion, but one which has a history which is distinct from that of the Church of England.

SEC Response

The Scottish Episcopal Church affirms much in the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals, especially their vision of the Anglican Communion as part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. However, the SEC also has significant concerns.

In particular, the SEC questions the English focus of historical narrative underlying the proposals. While recognising the need for definitions that reflect current realities, the SEC believes that to define Anglican identity solely in terms of “historic links with Canterbury” is problematic and insufficient.

In light of liturgical reform since the 1960s, continued reliance on the 1662 Book of Common Prayer as the theological foundation of the Anglican Communion is outdated. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer was in any case never definitive for the liturgy of the Scottish Episcopal Church.

The SEC recognises the potential benefits of a rotating ACC presidency, but notes that practical considerations are not addressed in these proposals. The status of the “regions” of the Anglican Communion also needs clarification.

The SEC regrets that the proposals seem to expect that not all member churches of the Anglican Communion will be in communion with one another, suggesting instead that baptismal ecclesiology would suffice as the theological basis of the Anglican Communion. The SEC’s canons define its relationship with the other member churches of the Anglican Communion as a relationship of full communion, and this is true for many others. There is therefore a real danger that these proposals could create a two-tier Communion.

Conclusion

As the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals are further discussed by ACC-19 next year, and as the Anglican Communion grapples with the implications of GAFCON’s statement distancing its member churches from the Anglican Communion, urges all member churches of the Anglican Communion to commit to engaging fully with the Instruments of the Anglican Communion: the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Anglican Consultative Council, and the Primates’s Meeting and to continuing in full communion with one another.

SEC full response to Nairobi-Cairo Proposals

The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: “I welcome the Nairobi-Cairo Proposals and have welcomed the opportunities for myself and the Scottish Episcopal Church to comment on the paper. I had the privilege of discussing it with colleagues at the Primates meeting in Rome and also at home, amongst members of the Faith and Order Board of this Church.

“The Proposals are welcomed because they seek to find ways of upholding the collegiality of the Anglican Communion. When I was elected as Primus I indicated that one task I needed to address was our relationship within the Communion and that has been a wonderful journey of creating friends and relationships.

“The joy of sharing a full sacramental life with such a remarkably diverse Communion is something I cherish and something we need to strive for. Diversity mustn’t be allowed to become division.

“I pray for all those who will take this work forward as I will be praying for both of our Scottish representatives at next year’s Anglican Consultative Council.”