The decision of the Bishop's Disciplinary Tribunal for the Diocese of Winchester regarding Dr Stephen Sizer concludes a long, thorough and carefully conducted process on the part of the Church of England in response to concerns raised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Antisemitism has no place in Christian pulpits and teaching, and we are grateful that the Tribunal took the issues as seriously as they did in prohibiting Dr Sizer from ministry until 2030.

We echo and endorse the statement of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who yesterday make clear his support of the findings of the Tribunal:

'The behaviour of Stephen Sizer has undermined Christian-Jewish relations, giving encouragement to conspiracy theories and tropes that have no place in public Christian ministry and the church. I renew my call for the highest possible standards among ordained ministers of the Church of England in combatting antisemitism of all kinds'.

We also affirm the words of Rt Revd Debbie Sellin, Acting Bishop of Winchester, who said, quoting a Church of England report on Jewish-Christian relations: 'The Christian-Jewish relationship should be viewed as a "gift of God to the Church" to be received with care, respect and gratitude'. [God's Unfailing Word, 2019]

CCJ is committed to promoting respectful, thoughtful and loving relationships between Jewish and Christian people.