New Windsor Center Ships $600,000 of Relief Goods to Storm Survivors on Behalf of CWS

Shipments of relief materials have been heading out from warehouses at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., to Hurricane Sandy survivors. The shipments–amounting to $605,152 worth of relief–are made on behalf of humanitarian organization Church World Service (CWS), a coalition of Christian denominations and nonprofit agencies.

Children’s Disaster Services Works in New Jersey, New York; Brethren Service Center Ships Materials for CWS

Brethren Disaster Ministries and ecumenical partner Church World Service (CWS) have issued updates on their responses to the unfolding disaster and continuing human needs in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Church members who are considering donating to the response are encouraged to give through the Emergency Disaster Fund (www.brethren.org/edf ) in support of the Brethren response including the work of Children’s Disaster Services (www.brethren.org/cds ).

Brethren Disaster Ministries Monitors Storm and Calls for Prayer, Children’s Disaster Services Volunteers on Alert

“CDS is busy,” reports Judy Bezon. As the storm called “Sandy” assaults the East Coast, Children’s Disaster Services has put volunteers on alert and Brethren Disaster Ministries staff are calling for prayer as they monitor the situation. Prayer is requested for all affected by the storm, as it threatens the US after causing damage in a number of Caribbean nations including Haiti–where four Brethren families lost homes–as well as the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

June 4 Is the Last Day of Operation of New Windsor Conference Center

The New Windsor Conference Center on the campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., ceases operation as of June 4. After this week’s chapel service at the denomination’s General Offices, staff called for prayer for those leaving employment with the Conference Center and expressed thanks for their work for the church.

Leaders in Disaster Ministry to Gather at Brethren Service Center

Faith communities often play a crucial role in responding to disasters throughout the US, such as by building houses, providing emotional care to survivors, and meeting other unmet needs. How and why faith communities respond to disasters will be explored at the 2012 Church World Service (CWS) Forum on Domestic Disaster Ministry, March 19-21 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

Board Gives Provisional Approval to Ministerial Leadership Paper, Makes Haiti Earthquake Grant

In addition to its decision to cease operation of the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center (reported in Newsline on Sunday, Oct. 16), the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board in its Fall meeting appointed LeAnn Wine as treasurer, and Ed Woolf as assistant treasurer; gave provisional approval to a revision of the denomination’s Ministerial Leadership Paper; and approved a $300,000 grant from the Emergency Disaster Fund to continue disaster relief and rebuilding in Haiti following the earthquake of 2010.

Board Gives Provisional Approval to Ministerial Leadership Paper, Makes Haiti Earthquake Grant

In addition to its decision to cease operation of the New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center (reported in Newsline on Sunday, Oct. 16), the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board in its Fall meeting appointed LeAnn Wine as treasurer, and Ed Woolf as assistant treasurer; gave provisional approval to a revision of the denomination’s Ministerial Leadership Paper; and approved a $300,000 grant from the Emergency Disaster Fund to continue disaster relief and rebuilding in Haiti following the earthquake of 2010.

Newsline for Oct. 20, 2011

Articles include:
1. Board decides to cease operation of New Windsor Conference Center, gives provisional approval to Ministerial Leadership Paper, makes grant to Haiti earthquake response.
2. On Earth Peace releases statement of inclusion.
3. Religious leaders arrested in Rotunda in July have their day in court.
4. Peace Witness Ministries takes up food stamp challenge.
5. GFCF grants go to work in Honduras, Niger, Kenya, and Rwanda.
6. Tracy Stoddart Primozich to oversee admissions at seminary.
7. Workcamps are announced for 2012.
8. Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, jobs, anniversaries, more.

Board Makes Decision to Cease Operating New Windsor Conference Center

The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board has determined that “operating the New Windsor Conference Center is not in alignment with the directional goals of our strategic plan and not financially sustainable.” The decision is not about the Brethren Service Center property as a whole nor the other ministries located at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.

[gt-link lang="en" label="English" widget_look="flags_name"]