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From the Editor ‘Lewis popped out for pipe tobacco and a book about goblins’ Irecently reread CS Lewis’s 1952 classic Mere Christianity. Unpacking the already aged term ‘Christian charity’, Lewis says loving my neighbour is a much broader obligation than financial giving; but giving is one thing it inescapably entails. How much should I give? He is not dogmatic, but says, ‘If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.’ So I ponder whether my giving pinches. I’m not sure. I've no idea how it compares to others I know, thank God. In fact I don’t think about it from one month to the next, but then I do have a pathological phobia of thinking about money. If I had to put my hand in my pocket and count out the notes every month, I guess I would feel it rather more than I feel 30-year-old direct debits. Life is more automated now than in 1952. And there are other big changes. I imagine Lewis giving till it pinched, then – rationing permitting – popping out to the shops to spend the rest on the fuel bill, some cheese, eggs, sugar, the Sunday joint, seasonal fruit and vegetables, tea and coffee, chocolate, pipe tobacco and a book about goblins. There wouldn’t have been a great deal of choice, and what there was would have been about personal preference. Now I have to think not just about the price and quality, but about whether my fuel provider is sustainable, how cruel the industrial farming is, the fairtrade logo, the air miles and hothousing, slavery in the supply lines. Spending on these things is not giving to charity, it is simply paying a fair price for a just product. But I suppose if I sat down and worked it out (and I’m not sure why the sitting down should be important but I definitely would), these choices would amount to a noticeable slice of my outgoings. Perhaps even a pinch? It is, as I say, not charity, but it is putting some of my money where my faith is, setting it to work to make a difference in the world, so it is in the same family. Is the way we think about Christian giving stuck in the world of CS Lewis? Do we need to update it, and deal with the fact that what I give and how I spend are all part of the same picture? For someone who dislikes thinking about money, it all makes me feel rather tired. But then, on any historical or geographical scale we are some of the richest people of all, and if I start thinking about what Jesus said about those who have money, I like it even less. If wealth gives us choices, choosing well probably isn't too much to ask. Stephen Tomkins, Editor Reform magazine 86 Tavistock Place London, WC1H 9RT 020 7916 2020 reform@urc.org.uk www.reform-magazine.co.uk Editor Stephen Tomkins Graphic Designer Chris Andrews Content Editor Laurence Wareing Book Reviews Editor Ian Fosten Art in Focus Curator Meryl Doney Local Digest Editor Laurence Wareing, Ann-Marie Nye Head of Communications Andy Jackson ADVERTISING Jo Asher: jo@jam-associates.co.uk 01858 681358 SUBSCRIPTIONS Louise Ault and Ruth Bankover, 020 7520 2721 (24 hour voicemail) Church House, 86 Tavistock Place London, WC1H 9RT 020 7520 2721 reformsubs@urc.org.uk www.reformsubs.co.uk Reform is published by the United Reformed Church: 020 7916 2020, www.urc.org.uk Issue 2 / 2025 / Reform / 4 Reform welcomes unsolicited articles though publication is not guaranteed. Nothing in these pages may be reprinted, in whole or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the United Reformed Church. Acceptance of advertisements does not constitute an endorsement either by Reform or by the United Reformed Church. ISSN 03067262 Printed using vegetablebased inks, by Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TR
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News Intensive review of URC colleges begins The United Reformed Church has begun an urgent review of its education and training provision. The present arrangements for ministerial training and lay development are agreed to be financially unsustainable. The Assembly Executive of the URC called for the review in February, to make a final report to General Assembly in July. It is unusual for the review of such an important and complex part of Church life to be undertaken in just a few months, and it is expected to involve a large amount of work. But the urgency reflects both the cost the Church is incurring and the time it can take to introduce changes in education. The United Reformed Church is spending £1.2m a year on its resource centres for learning and ministerial training. The cost of education per member of the URC doubled between 2012 and 2020. There are at present 23 students training for ordination and commissioning. Assembly Executive was assured by those proposing the review that the practicalities had been thought through and the work was feasible. The URC General Secretary, the Revd Dr John Bradbury, said that it was a very ambitious proposal, ‘but we have to do it. The situation the resource centres for learning have been living with is impossible.’ The United Reformed Church has three resource centres for learning: Westminster College, Cambridge; Northern College, Manchester, and the Scottish College, Glasgow. CofE safeguarding compromise inster ): ©Westm ise lockw (C Photograph land of Eng Church ©The , llege Co In a much debated vote at the General Synod on 11 February, the Church of England decided against proposals to make its safeguarding fully independent. The Synod opted instead for a compromise proposal. This makes national oversight and scrutiny of Church safeguarding independent – it has till now belonged to a group of bishops – but diocesan safeguarding officers remain employed by the Church. The proposal for full independence had the support of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell (pictured), the most senior figure in the Church of England after Justin Welby quit in January over the safeguarding scandal. It was also supported by the Church’s safeguarding lead, the Bishop of Stepney, Joanne Grenfell, and by the Church’s safeguarding adviser, the Chair of the government’s Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, Alexis Jay. Dr Grenfell told the Church Times: ‘I think the Church has missed a huge opportunity to send a message to victims and survivors that we hear their concerns about trust and confidence.’ The compromise resolution was presented by the Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North. He argued that voting for full independence would mean making a choice the Church could not yet implement, which would have risked ending in a mess. Full independence could then return to the Synod in the future, he said. Issue 2 / 2025 / Reform / 5 News in Brief What is your favourite hymn and why? Is there a hymn you are particularly attached to? Tell us the story! Reform is collecting favourites for Rejoice and Sing Live, our celebration of 50 years of the hymnbook. Send your story to Reform by 3 April. For contact details see page 4. For details of the event, see page 13. What is a synod? The URC has produced a new video explaining what the 13 synods are in Wales, Scotland and England, and the role they play in the life of the Church: youtu.be/zpiEJbPdsO4 Church magazine awards The 2025 awards from the Association of Church Editors are open for church magazines that use black and white printing only. Judges look for: clarity of the Christian message, cover design, layout and structure, headlines, graphics, and appeal to intended readers. For more information and to enter, visit churchmag.uk/2025awards. The closing date is 31 May 2025. Next year’s awards will include colour printing. British Muslim Network launched The British Muslim Network was launched on 25 February. The aim of the network is to influence government policy in areas affecting Muslim communities, including health, education, immigration, equalities and the economy. Akeela Ahmed, co-chair of the network, told The Guardian, ‘We’re hoping ... to really put into ... the public conversation the reality of the lived lives of British Muslims around the UK.’

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From the Editor

‘Lewis popped out for pipe tobacco and a book about goblins’

Irecently reread CS Lewis’s 1952 classic Mere Christianity. Unpacking the already aged term ‘Christian charity’, Lewis says loving my neighbour is a much broader obligation than financial giving; but giving is one thing it inescapably entails. How much should I give? He is not dogmatic, but says, ‘If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.’

So I ponder whether my giving pinches. I’m not sure. I've no idea how it compares to others I know, thank God. In fact I don’t think about it from one month to the next, but then I do have a pathological phobia of thinking about money. If I had to put my hand in my pocket and count out the notes every month, I guess I would feel it rather more than I feel 30-year-old direct debits.

Life is more automated now than in 1952. And there are other big changes. I imagine Lewis giving till it pinched, then – rationing permitting – popping out to the shops to spend the rest on the fuel bill, some cheese, eggs, sugar, the Sunday joint, seasonal fruit and vegetables, tea and coffee, chocolate, pipe tobacco and a book about goblins. There wouldn’t have been a great deal of choice, and what there was would have been about personal preference.

Now I have to think not just about the price and quality, but about whether my fuel provider is sustainable, how cruel the industrial farming is, the fairtrade logo, the air miles and hothousing, slavery in the supply lines.

Spending on these things is not giving to charity, it is simply paying a fair price for a just product. But I suppose if I sat down and worked it out (and I’m not sure why the sitting down should be important but I definitely would), these choices would amount to a noticeable slice of my outgoings. Perhaps even a pinch?

It is, as I say, not charity, but it is putting some of my money where my faith is, setting it to work to make a difference in the world, so it is in the same family. Is the way we think about Christian giving stuck in the world of CS Lewis? Do we need to update it, and deal with the fact that what I give and how I spend are all part of the same picture?

For someone who dislikes thinking about money, it all makes me feel rather tired. But then, on any historical or geographical scale we are some of the richest people of all, and if I start thinking about what Jesus said about those who have money, I like it even less. If wealth gives us choices, choosing well probably isn't too much to ask.

Stephen Tomkins, Editor

Reform magazine 86 Tavistock Place London, WC1H 9RT 020 7916 2020 reform@urc.org.uk www.reform-magazine.co.uk

Editor Stephen Tomkins Graphic Designer Chris Andrews Content Editor Laurence Wareing Book Reviews Editor Ian Fosten Art in Focus Curator Meryl Doney Local Digest Editor Laurence Wareing, Ann-Marie Nye Head of Communications Andy Jackson

ADVERTISING Jo Asher: jo@jam-associates.co.uk 01858 681358

SUBSCRIPTIONS Louise Ault and Ruth Bankover, 020 7520 2721 (24 hour voicemail)

Church House, 86 Tavistock Place London, WC1H 9RT 020 7520 2721 reformsubs@urc.org.uk www.reformsubs.co.uk

Reform is published by the United Reformed Church: 020 7916 2020, www.urc.org.uk

Issue 2 / 2025 / Reform / 4

Reform welcomes unsolicited articles though publication is not guaranteed. Nothing in these pages may be reprinted, in whole or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the United Reformed Church. Acceptance of advertisements does not constitute an endorsement either by Reform or by the United Reformed Church. ISSN 03067262

Printed using vegetablebased inks, by Bishops Printers, Walton Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TR

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