Church of England vicar found guilty of 'anti-Semitic activity' trends now

A vicar has been kicked out of the Church of England in an anti-Semitism row after meeting a Hezbollah commander and posting an article entitled: '9/11: Israel did it.

Rev Dr Stephen Sizer was investigated by a church tribunal after the Board of Deputies of British Jews made 11 allegations against him between 2005 and 2018. 

The tribunal eventually found that Dr Sizer had 'engaged in anti-Semitic activity' in respect to four allegations and was given a 'penalty judgment' under the Clergy Disciplinary Measure 2003. 

This will prohibit the retired vicar from licensed ministry in the Church of England for 12 years - which will take into account time served since the Board of Deputies of British Jews 2018 complaint. 

This means he will be free to practise again in 2030. 

Throughout the process, the former vicar of Christ Church in Virginia Water, Surrey denied anti-Semitic behaviour but admitted the factual basis of all 11 claims. 

In a rare move, Dr Sizer chose to hold his tribunal in public in a bid to clear his name, arguing that his actions were political and aimed at the state of Israel, not Jewish people.

However, the tribunal eventually found that Dr Sizer's conduct had been 'unbecoming to the office and work of a clerk in Holy Order' in that he provoked and offended the Jewish community and/or engaged in anti-Semitic activity with respect to four out of 11 allegations. 

In 2006, Dr Sizer met 'senior Hezbollah commander' Sheikh Nabil Kaouk in a secret location near Tyre, Lebanon - however he claimed he did not instigate the meeting. 

Regardless, the tribunal decided it was 'unacceptable' for an ordained minister to make an 'unauthorised visit' to a senior commander of the military wing of Hezbollah other than in an official capacity and found Dr Sizer's conduct unbecoming and inappropriate in that he provoked and offended the Jewish community. 

It also concluded, however, that he was not engaging in anti-Semitic activity.