Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service May 7, 2007 Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN RENAMES ITS DISASTER RESPONSE PROGRAMS
(May 7, 2007) Elgin, IL -- New names have been chosen for three disaster response programs of the Church of the Brethren: Emergency Response, Disaster Child Care, and Service Ministries.
--"Brethren Disaster Ministries" is the new name for the
Emergency Response program that encompasses the Brethren
Disaster Response rebuilding ministry.
--Disaster Child Care is being renamed "Children's Disaster
Services."
--Service Ministries is returning to a former name, "Material
Resources."
For some time, staff of the church's General Board have been discussing changing the names of the programs for several reasons. The names have not readily identify the programs as Brethren, and have not accurately identified what the programs do, staff said. The new names more adequately reflect the identity and mission of the church's disaster response work.
The name of Disaster Child Care, for example, seemed "to carry the connotation of a babysitting service rather than helping children cope following disasters," said a memo that has been distributed to announce the name change to child care volunteers. The new name, "Children's Disaster Services," encompasses the program's expanding services.
Slight modifications are being made to the logos of the programs, as well.
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.
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For more information contact:
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org
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