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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Story by WAU Staff

Washington Adventist University (WAU) recently welcomed Anwar Ottley to the Music Department where he serves as adjunct professor and leads the Columbia Collegiate Choral and the Pro Musica. 

Ottley currently serves as pastor of worship at Potomac Conference's Takoma Park (Md.) church where he has served for the past nine years. He holds a Master of Music degree from Andrews University (Mich.), a Bachelors of Music degree from Columbia Union College (WAU) and He is currently completing coursework toward the Doctor of Worship Studies degree offered at Liberty University (Va.). Ottley is married to Sharlene, and together they have a newborn. 

A flash flood in 2015 destroyed this bridge, making it nearly impossible for 13 Pigeon Creek families to get access to food and medical care.

Story by Valerie Morikone

You cannot watch today’s news for more than a few minutes before coming to the conclusion that we, as human beings, do not show much love for each other. Not only here in the U.S., but around the world we see turmoil and strife on a very grand scale,” says Larry Murphy, pastor of the Weirton and Wheeling (W.Va.) churches, and Adventist Community Services (ACS) director for the Mountain View Conference.

Story by Bryant Smith

Sim Fryson, an Allegheny West Conference Shiloh church member in Huntington, W.Va., recently experienced a miracle driving on a busy highway in Charleston, W.Va. He saw a woman standing on the side of the road with a baby in her arms, frantically trying to flag someone down. Fryson stopped, saw that the child was not breathing and administered CPR. Thanks to his quick action, the child survived.

The police department in Fryson’s hometown of Charleston honored him, and the local TV station ran the story, naming him a “Hometown Hero.” When presented with an award, Fryson responded, “The Lord blessed me to be at the right place at the right time, so I give Him all the credit for that.”