What’s in a name? Quite a lot when it comes to the name Reform. Which is the name of the URC’s national magazine – but also of other things.
Reform magazine has had its name since it came into being, at the same time as the United Reformed Church itself. But the times, they are a-changin’ – and now consideration is being given to re-branding the publication.
Below, Reform‘s editor, Stephen Tomkins lays out the situation and asks three questions he’d like your thoughts on. Email your answers to [email protected], putting ‘Name of Reform’ as the subject heading, or write to the address below, by 1 December.
Steve writes:
“A few weeks ago, someone phoned the Reform subscriptions team saying they wanted to cancel their new subscription. This was not a first. Such things happen. What was a first was the reason he gave.
“He had thought he was buying the official magazine of his preferred political party, Reform UK. Instead, it turned out to be what he correctly described as ‘some religious thing’. This has happened a few times since. Reform‘s name has caused problems before. From 2013 to 2015 we had a stall at Greenbelt festival giving away free copies of the magazine. We got some filthy looks when people saw the name, because they thought we were the Anglican organisation Reform (since defunct), which was opposed to the ministry of women. We made a banner saying, ‘Not that Reform!’ and it proved to be a conversation starter. These things can work out to your advantage. Sometimes.
“Today, the problem seems bigger. Reform UK is a political party that got four million votes in the last UK General Election, fourteen percent of the total, and now dominates the polls. Its stance on immigration and asylum is not a good fit for a Church which has challenged successive governments on their anti-immigrant rhetoric saying that it serves to ‘drive public anxiety and entrench polarisation.’ The URC also strongly opposed the Illegal Migration Act of 2023 at its General Assembly, for failing to honour human dignity.
“Having the same name as someone you disagree with does not need to hold you back, as my friend Andrew Tate (not that Andrew Tate!) will tell you. But it can do. We’ve heard talk of the name causing some confusion, consternation or embarrassment in local churches. Of people covering up the title to avoid having the ‘not that Reform’ conversation. There is a long tradition of people buying magazines and keeping them hidden, but that’s not the niche that we are aiming for.
“So we would like to tap the brains of our readers. Here are three questions we would like to hear your thoughts on:
- Has the name of Reform been causing trouble for you? Tell us about it.
- Do you think the time has come to change the name? How would you feel about that?
- If we change the name, what should the new name be? Give us your bright ideas.
“Please email your answers to [email protected], putting ‘Name of Reform’ as the subject heading, or write to the address below, by 1 December. Thank you.”
Reform magazine, 86 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9RT