Who We Are, How We Serve

The Columbia Union Conference coordinates the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s work in the Mid-Atlantic United States, where 149,000 members worship in 800 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences, two healthcare networks, 81 elementary and secondary schools, a liberal arts university, a health sciences college, a dozen community services centers, six book and health food stores and a radio station.

Mission Values 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.

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ANN: Statement on the Biblical View of Unborn Life and Its Implications for Abortion

Image by Adventist News Network

Story and image by Adventist News Network Staff

Following a period of study and discussion, a diverse group of Seventh-day Adventist theologians, medical experts, healthcare administrators, ethicists and Church administrators have worked to produce a draft Statement addressing a biblical view of abortion.

The last time the denomination issued guidelines on abortion was in 1992. A voted Statement outlines the Adventist Church’s official position on a specific matter. Guidelines offer direction for practical application on a specific subject.

ANN: Recommendations resulting from the 2018 Annual Council Compliance Action

Seventh-day Adventist World Church President Ted Wilson speaks to the crowd at Annual Council.

Story and Image by Adventist News Network Staff

A document outlining recommendations resulting from the 2018 Annual Council Compliance Action was distributed to General Conference Executive Committee members today. 

The 2018 decision was a continuation of the discussion from the 2017 Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee. The 2018 Annual Council vote outlined a process for addressing matters of non-compliance within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

Spiritual Power

Praying Woman Hands by Long Thiên from Flickr

Editorial by Gary Gibbs

As the evangelist preached to the crowd gathered at a stadium in Africa, a spiritual battle was raging behind the stage platform. A woman was writhing, kicking and foaming at the mouth. Her deep, gruff voice sent shivers up my spine as I and others prayed for her to be freed from tormenting demons. Through prayer in the name of Jesus, a peaceful calm ultimately swept over her, and she left that night free and happy.

A Son’s Prayers Answered

Barbara Spessard is now a member of the Waynesboro church, in large part due to her son Tony Hade’s relentless prayers for 15 years.

Story by Tamyra Horst

Barbara Spessard has been intermittently around Seventh-day Adventists for most of her life. Her in-laws, Roy and Mabel Hade, shared biblical truths from an Adventist’s perspective nearly 50 years ago. Velora Gunder, a member of the Pennsylvania Conference's Waynesboro church, shared Bible studies with Spessard a number of years ago. More recently, Chris Trent, a Bible instructor for the Waynesboro church, studied with her. She attended Sabbath vespers and Sabbath School.