History
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2 NIV) Challenged by this Biblical mandate to "carry each other's burdens," the Church of the Brethren traditionally has been involved in the relief of suffering, whether caused by war, strife or natural disaster. Formerly known as Brethren Disaster Services, the Disaster Response program was originally part of the Brethren Service Commission, which was established in 1941.

The myrtle wood service cup was adopted in 1942 as a symbol for Brethren Service at the Asheville, N.C. Annual Conference. The logo (see top of page), designed by Annette Mowe, symbolizes reconciliation as the Germantown communion cup is being passed from one person to another.

The Emergency Disaster Fund was established in 1960 for the purpose of supporting all Brethren disaster recovery projects and relief efforts. These efforts were somewhat sporadic and small-scale until a massive disaster struck in 1972.

Devastating floods from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 inundated the tri-state region of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Brethren Disaster Services responded with 2,203 volunteers who assisted 725 of the affected households in Wilkes-Barre, Penna. The severity of this disaster compelled the 1973 Annual Conference to establish disaster response guidelines as part of the goals for the decade, as well as a formal disaster response network within the districts.

This action brought the dawning of a new era for the disaster response ministry of the Church of the Brethren. The disaster response guidelines provided the basis for the church's response in the aftermath of a disaster, and the disaster response network provided an organized vehicle for the recruitment of volunteers to aid disaster-stricken communities. The guidelines were expanded in 1979 with the founding of the Disaster Child Care Program.

At first, the responsibility of carrying out the disaster response guidelines was shared among three managers at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. These three were D. Miller Davis, Kenneth McDowell, and Mac Coffman. Several years later, approval was given for the creation of the General Board staff position of Director of Disaster Response and Refugee Resettlement. R. Jan Thompson was hired in 1978 as the first person to fill this position. The Disaster Response Program was born, and the disaster response network could now be further developed and strengthened.

Each Church of the Brethren district has an appointed disaster coordinator who issues district-wide appeals for volunteers when they are needed for specific disaster response projects. The coordinators gather biennially in New Windsor to receive training in various aspects of disaster response and volunteer recruitment. Also, there are now several dozen trained, volunteer project directors who provide on-site management of the disaster projects.

Over the years, the Brethren have become known for providing capable, caring and hard-working volunteers on behalf of disaster survivors who are incapable of helping themselves. The existing records indicate that, from 1973 through 2001, Brethren Disaster Response initiated a total of 162 recovery projects following major disasters, mostly in the United States and US territories. And from 1978 through 2001, our gracious Lord has enabled 18,263 volunteers to answer the call by sharing their talents for a total of 90,876 workdays, or 727,000 work hours, on disaster response projects. The total value of this donated labor in the present-day economy is $11,188,530.

The redesign of the General Board in 1997 united the Disaster Response Program, Disaster Child Care, Refugee Resettlement, and Service Ministries, into a single unit called Emergency Response/Service Ministries (ER/SM). ER/SM is directed by Roy Winter, and the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor remains its home.