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 150,000 members worship in 860 congregations. We provide administrative support to eight conferences; two healthcare networks; 81 early childhood, elementary and secondary schools; a liberal arts university; a health sciences college; a 49 community services centers; 8 camps; 5 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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Kettering Adventist Health Care's Cancer Program Receives National Outstanding Achievement Award

Story by Elizabeth Long

The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer has presented Kettering Adventist Health Care with the 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award for the network’s cancer services program. Award criteria were based on accreditations surveys conducted during the second half of 2016.

The award acknowledges cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Kettering Health Network is one of only 42 U.S. health care facilities with accredited cancer programs to receive this national honor for surveys performed last year.

Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee Sets Priorities

During the March 12 Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting in Hershey, Pa., committee members voted to approve the following:

Our Priorities

During the 2016-2021 quinquennium, the Columbia Union Conference seeks to further the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church by prioritizing the following:

Spiritual Renewal – Promote healthy churches by uniting members through personal and corporate spiritual revival and active engagement in ministry

Evangelism – Support initiatives that impact our communities by revealing the love of Christ, inviting people to accept Christ as their Savior and sharing the distinct Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness

Ray Hartwell Recognized for Service

Columbia Union Executive officers recognize Jeanne and Ray Hartwell. Photo by Ricardo Bacchus

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

During the March 12 Columbia Union Conference Executive Committee meeting, Dave Weigley, union president, recognized Ray Hartwell’s 13 years on the committee and his 21 years serving in the Pennsylvania Conference.

“I just want to say you’ve been a great leader for Pennsylvania,” said Weigley. “You’ve been a leader in this union, in some of the very important discussions we’ve had. We pray God will bless you in your new position.”

Hartwell, and his wife, Jeanne, have moved to the Georgia-Cumberland Conference where he now serves as the Stewardship and Trust Services director and Association secretary.

 

Mountain View Conference Hispanic Membership Surpasses 100 Members

Members of the Moorefield Spanish Company Company gather outside their rented facility.

Story by Walter Cardenas

On a Sabbath morning in July 2005, an Adventist Spanish-speaking gentleman walked through the doors of the Moorefield (W.Va.) church. Communicating with him was limited because of the language barrier, but that day the members of this small church “realiaized that we may have other brothers and sisters from Spanish-speaking countries that would want to join us,” says Phyllis Jeffers, Moore eld church treasurer. “The next week we ordered four Spanish Adult Sabbath School quarterlies.”

Homeless Teen Gets Second Chance

Michelle “Shelby” Muyango (center), joined by Pastor John Kent and Karen Schneider, shares her testimony.

 

How does Blue Mountain Academy (BMA) make Jesus real to its students? While on a recent mission trip to Pittsburgh, the BMA seniors befriended a young homeless girl. Pastor John Kent, from the Carnegie Simple (Pa.) church, shared that the girl, Michelle “Shelby” Muyango, had been coming to church intermittently due to a difficult living environment. A bright and insightful young lady, Muyango struggled to be visible to the outside world. During the trip, BMA students took notice of her, and rather than shun her, talked with her, got to know her, ate with her and played volleyball with her.