Church's disaster response programs are renamed.

New names have been chosen for three disaster response programs of the Church of the Brethren General Board: 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 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.

New logos have also been created for the programs, and will be displayed at Annual Conference.

Source: 5/09/2007 Newsline