A pilot program to help communities launch long-term recovery following disasters is growing ecumenically. Over the past two years the disaster ministries of the Church of the Brethren, the United Church of Christ (UCC), and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have joined forces to pioneer the Disaster Recovery Support Initiative (DRSI) in nine states
Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed $50,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to support ecumenical partners who are serving people affected by the refugee and migrant crisis. Other recent EDF grants include the allocation of $30,000 to continue the Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project in Spotswood, N.J.
Church World Service is involved in an action of civil disobedience at the White House this week, as the Congress and US administration consider expediting deportations of refugee children. Also, CWS has announced a number of ways it is working to aid the refugee children, and is asking supporters to call Congress to urge passage of a “clean” supplemental funding bill responding to the situation of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. CWS is a longstanding ecumenical humanitarian organization, of which the Church of the Brethren is a member denomination.
John L. McCullough, president and CEO of Church World Service (CWS) and speaker at the Global Ministries Dinner at the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, was taken with the theme of the conference, “Move in Our Midst.”
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.
Alabama tornado destruction. Children’s Disaster Services has been helping care for children and families affected in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Photo by Tim Burkitt, FEMA Brethren Disaster Ministries (BDM) has issued a situation report on the severe storms in the South, and an update on its new rebuilding work following last year’s flooding in Tennessee. Children’s Disaster
“Give us today our daily bread” Matthew 6:11 (NIV) Coming soon: a Newsline Special Report from the Church of the Brethren’s 13th Intercultural Consultation. Also to come in Newsline on May 16: A full report on the merger of the Church of the Brethren Credit Union with the Corporate America Family Credit Union, approved by
Tornado damage in Pulaski County, Va. Shenandoah and Virlina Districts are collaborating with Brethren Disaster Ministries to do repairs to damaged homes. Volunteers will begin working in the county next week. Photos by Mike Cocker/VDEM. The severe tornado outbreak stretching across the South is being called the worst in four decades. There were 210 deaths in Alabama
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). NEWS 1) Brethren Disaster Ministries responds to tornado damage 2) A Report on Bethany Seminary’s Board of Trustees meeting 3)
Five study papers on Christian understanding were written for and presented at the 2010 National Council of Churches (NCC) and Church World Service General Assembly. These papers served as the focus for discussions throughout the Assembly. Church of the Brethren General Secretary Stan Noffsinger describes the papers as “thought-inspiring and provocative resources, which should be