Who We Are, How We Serve

The Columbia Union Conference, established in 1907 to coordinate the Seventh-day Adventist Church's work in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, is part of the worldwide Protestant denomination of 23 million members in more than 212 countries. At the union level, we connect and provide administrative leadership, governance and support services to our conferences, schools, health care networks and ministries. Each year, our organizations sponsor programs and projects that address human needs, improve quality of life and introduce people to Jesus. Read our Mission, Values and Priorities.

We Believe

God is love, power, and splendor—and God is a mystery. His ways are far beyond us, but He still reaches out to us. God is infinite yet intimate, three yet one,
all-knowing yet all-forgiving.

Learn More

Alumnus Duane White (’86), now a physician, presents at Career Day.

Story by Janel Ware

The Shenandoah Valley Academy (SVA) Alumni Association Board is developing a database of alumni and parent professionals interested in sharing their education and career journeys with students: “It’s wonderful that many alumni specially desire to inform, inspire and encourage today’s students by returning to share their career experiences. We’ve been thrilled with the response and hope for more!” says Kelli (Fluharty) Hanon (’88), alumni president.

Photo by Marvens Victor

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

The Haitian Youth Federation of Allegheny East Conference (AEC) recently held its first annual young adult retreat at Sandy Cove Ministries (Md). Close to 70 young adults between the ages of 18 and 40, including staff, attended the weekend retreat.

The Haitian Federation intentionally reached out to the 18- to 35-year-olds—the sometimes disengaged and forgotten demographic. “Our mission was to help our young adults connect with God and each other in order to be transformed into the image of Christ through His Word, His creation and our community,” shares Nadege Duvernay, AEC Haitian Federation president.

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

“Historically, it is in crisis when the church has the most significant opportunity to live out its full mission of being the hands and feet of Jesus,” wrote Chad Stuart, senior pastor of Chesapeake Conference’s Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md., in the church’s most recent e-newsletter. “When I say ‘the church,’ please note that I am not talking about the building, about programs, or events, or even preaching. When I say ‘the church,’ I’m speaking of the calling placed on each member to be a light of hope and help in their immediate proximity.”

Image by Chrizzel_lu on pixabay

Story by ACSGW and Visitor Staff

Amid the growing number of closures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW) will remain open starting March 16 to help feed families whose children would otherwise receive free or reduced meals at school during the two-week school closure.

Leaders from the center have requested food and item donations for hygiene kits. Needed supplies include extra soap, hand sanitizer, shampoo, disinfectant wipes, toothpaste and other toiletries to help replenish the supply of hygiene kits that are needed more than ever during this crisis.

Where to Donate

Estimada familia de la Unión de Columbia,

Nos enfrentamos a un momento sin precedentes, y aunque no somos inmunes al impacto del Coronavirus, sabemos que servimos a un Dios todopoderoso que ve, se preocupa y quién es una ayuda siempre presente en tiempos de problemas.

A medida que avanzamos juntos en esta crisis, sepamos que hemos estado en contacto con los presidentes de nuestras conferencias e instituciones, y todos estamos orando por usted, y le pedimos que se una a nosotros para orar por sus familias, amigos, comunidades, los que dan atención médica y otros trabajadores de primera línea.