Jenn Dorsch-Messler has announced her resignation as director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, having served for more than 10 years beginning on Feb. 24, 2015. Her resignation is effective Jan. 9, 2026. She has accepted a position on a new executive leadership team at Mennonite Disaster Service located in Lititz, Pa.
Brethren Disaster Ministries
Brethren Disaster Ministries receives grant for rebuilding project in Kentucky
Brethren Disaster Ministries received a $5,000 UPS Long Term Recovery Grant through a partnership with the UPS Foundation and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
Emergency Disaster Fund closes out year with large grant to Haiti following Hurricane Melissa, among others
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed the last grants for 2025 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) headed by a large grant of $120,000 to support the Hurricane Melissa recovery program of Églises des Frères d’Haïti (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti) and $5,000 to support emergency relief in Cuba after Hurricane Melissa via ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela).
Children’s Disaster Services responds to flooding in western Washington State
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries, has deployed to western Washington State following catastrophic atmospheric river flooding that began on Dec. 8.
Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteers support Helene recovery in Tennessee
From Sept. 21 to Nov. 15, 2025, more than 95 Brethren Disaster Ministries Rebuilding volunteers traveled to Johnson County, Tenn., to support 11 households impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Update on Church World Service kit program and collections
Church World Service (CWS) has announced changes related to its kit program and collections, as the Material Resources program at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor closes by year’s end. Material Resources, the longterm Church of the Brethren program to collect, warehouse, and ship disaster relief and other material goods for CWS and other
Church of the Brethren Hurricane Melissa response
Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever appear in the Caribbean Sea. It caused extensive damage in Haiti before making landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 27 as an extremely powerful and destructive Category 5 hurricane. Melissa passed over the island nation heading north to make landfall in Cuba on Oct. 29 as a weaker hurricane with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.
Michael Scalzi retires from Children’s Disaster Services
Michael Scalzi will retire on Dec. 31 as program assistant for Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a Church of the Brethren program in Brethren Disaster Ministries based at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Brethren Disaster Ministries shares domestic program survey
Brethren Disaster Ministries, including Children’s Disaster Services, the Rebuilding Program and Global Response, is undergoing a program review that includes a survey (see information below), stakeholder group meetings, interviews with program volunteers, and discussions with church leaders. Input is needed from anyone who engages with Brethren Disaster Ministries or the Church of the Brethren on any level.
Faith leaders condemn administration efforts to abandon historic US refugee program
Church World Service (CWS) alongside its fellow “Covenant Members”—with the full-fledged support of people of faith, refugee voices, and community leaders across the United States—condemned White House efforts to abandon the US Refugee program. The Church of the Brethren is one of the “Covenant Members” of CWS and also is a founding member.