Statement From Alex Jacob regarding Nick Howard's article on Stephen Sizer
A statement regarding the ongoing controversy over the views of Rev Dr Stephen Sizer and the recent comments in the Jewish Chronicle by Rev Nick Howard
This statement has been written by Rev Alex Jacob (Chief Executive Officer of CMJ). It is in response to a recent article by Rev Nick Howard, and the subsequent discussions in January 2012, surrounding comments from Rev Stephen Sizer.
Rev Nick Howard in his meticulously researched article published in the Jewish Chronicle (Jan 2012) asks that the Church of England should take urgent disciplinary action against Rev Dr Stephen Sizer, on the grounds of his alleged racist and anti-Semitic actions. This call was supported by Anglican Friends of Israel, who argued that if the Church failed to challenge Rev Dr Sizer, the Church leaders would be falling short in their pastoral duty.
I have (along with many colleagues and supporters of CMJ) followed carefully and contributed to the wider and at times complex debate exploring issues around Christian Theological attitudes to the State of Israel, Zionism and anti-Semitism[i]. During such exploration, debate and study, I have often struggled to define the dividing line between legitimate and nuanced censure of the Israeli Government, permissible theological anti-Zionism and unacceptable implicit and explicit anti-Semitism. However, in this specific debate relating to the views and actions of Rev Dr Sizer, the case presented by Rev Nick Howard, that Rev Dr Sizer has on a number of occasions, and in a number of ways, crossed over the line and into behaviour which is explicitly anti-Semitic is, I believe, compelling.
At the very least, there is enough evidence to demand an initial disciplinary investigation. I urge the relevant authorities to take prompt action in this regard. By so doing, the Church can demonstrate its commitment to seeking the justice, love and shalom of God.
[i]See for example the following: 1) The CMJ website article “Is CMJ Zionist?” 2) My two CMJ books - “The Case for Enlargement Theology” and “Receive the Truth” 3) My paper “For the Love of Zion and Jesus” presented at the Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) August 2011. 4) CMJ Israel staff statement on “Israel and the Palestinians” (approved by the CMJ council in 2004)