Stephen Sizer, the Anglican vicar recently found by an Ecclesiastical tribunal to have engaged in anti-Semitic activity, has now withdrawn his membership at an evangelical church.
Sizer was the subject of an excoriating ruling last December, despite many allegations of anti-Semitic behaviour not being accepted. It has since emerged that he and his wife were members of the Above Bar Church in Southampton. The church – an FIEC member – has confirmed that the Sizers have decided to withdraw their church membership.
FIEC national director John Stevens confirmed that the organisation has been helping the elders at Above Bar Church in their response to the ruling. He said: ‘Inevitably as a result of this tribunal and its decision, the church wanted our help to think about how it should properly deal with Stephen Sizer in membership, pastorally and appropriately.’
‘It’s their responsibility – they’re an independent church,’ added Stevens, ‘so it was crucially important for that church to understand what the tribunal decided and what it had concluded about Stephen Sizer and his behaviour.’
In a statement, the church elders said: ‘At various times we have had ministers, lay leaders and staff members of both Jewish and Gentile heritage. As a church, we wish to make it clear that we abhor and deplore any form of racism including anti-Semitism, whether in action or word or behaviour. We are clear that any such activity or behaviour demeans the good news of salvation for people of every nation, tribe, people and language; and dishonours our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.’
Jewish reaction
Following the ruling, the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem said: ‘We applaud the Church of England for invoking church discipline in this matter, as anti-Semitism has no place within the church of Messiah Jesus’, adding that there were lessons for believers.
‘First, anti-Semitism is wrong, and we in the church need to hold other church members accountable for anti-Semitism rhetoric (Gal. 1:6). The church, sadly, has a long, ugly history of anti-Semitism… Second, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21). Instead of using our tongue to curse others “who have been made in the likeness of God”, we ought to use it to bless others, especially the Jewish people.
‘Finally, criticism of Israel can easily cross over into anti-Semitism… The church needs to approach the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with wisdom and love toward both Israelis and Palestinians.’
The UK branch of Chosen People Ministries, a US-headquartered Christian ministry to Jewish people, said it was relieved at the ruling. In a statement, it said: ‘Anti-Semitism in all its forms must be vigorously countered by those who claim to believe in and live according to the Bible. The stigmatisation of Israel as an “apartheid state” has become an accepted and often repeated trope, opening the door to the claim Israel and Israelis are racist. This is the message that Sizer has been promoting and it must be repudiated.’
Sizer himself has not made any public statements since 22 December and en understands he does not intend commenting further until the full disciplinary process has concluded. The tribunal has yet to decide on appropriate sanctions to impose on Sizer.
