Name change for Christian Union

University students have voted to change the name of a Christian Union after claims it was misleading.

The Students' Guild of the University of Exeter said some students complained that the name did not reflect the society's evangelical views.

It was temporarily changed to the Evangelical Christian Union (ECU). Students have now supported a full-time change of the name in a referendum.

The ECU said it had never seen such a problem in its 50-year history.

Of course we are 'evangelical', in that we hold to an orthodox understanding of what the Bible says Emma Brewster

Emma Brewster, ECU worker at Exeter University, said: "Literally thousands of students have joined the Christian Union [CU] whilst studying at Exeter, and the name has never been a problem.

"The CU here, like at almost ever university in the UK, holds the orthodox Christian views which churches of all denominations have also held for over 2,000 years. In 50 years, this is the first complaint about our name.

"Of course we are 'evangelical', in that we hold to an orthodox understanding of what the Bible says, and when people join this society, like any of the 80 societies on campus, they join on the understanding of what we do and what we stand for."

The Student Guild, which represents and supports students, said the decision had been a democratic one and the vote followed an extensive debate.