Church World Service records, 1925 -- 1969

The Church World Service (CWS) was founded in 1946, with a mission of "Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, comfort the aged, shelter the homeless." It merged three preexisting groups: the Church Committee for China Relief, the Church Committee for Relief in Asia, and the Church Committee for Overseas Relief and Reconstruction. A total of seventeen denominations, both Catholic and Protestant, formed CWS in order to provide aid such as food, clothing and medical supplies to those affected by World War Two. Successful programs included the Immigration and Refugee Program, Christian Rural Overseas Program and One Great Hour of Sharing, which still exist today. In the 1950s and 1960s, CWS expanded from Europe and Asia to assistance in Africa and Latin America. It was also during the 1960s that the organization began to provide funds for development along with pre-existing emergency aid. In 1965, CWS merged with the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States: Division of Overseas Ministries. Aside from their help to overseas, in 1970 CWS began serving the United States during disaster. Much of CWS's success is due to partnerships, some of which have separated to create other organizations such as the Middle East Council of Churches, the Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh or CEPAD in Nicaragua. CWS is still active in over thirty countries. The National Council of Churches considers it a sister agency.