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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Photo by forcal35 on pixabay

Story by the General Conference Office of General Counsel & General Conference Public Affairs and Religious Liberty

The United States House and Senate passed, and the President is expected to sign into law, H.R. 1 formerly known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” which makes certain changes to the United States Internal Revenue Code. Below is a summary of some of the changes that particularly impact the Adventist Church and its employees. It also addresses changes that were proposed but not ultimately passed.

Photo by Mathieu Plourde from Flickr

Editorial by Andre Ascalon

On any given day, we are bombarded with information from a multitude of sources—email, text messages, television and social media sites. Sadly, too many times this barrage of information is more negative than positive. Between the increasingly common natural disasters, mass shootings, sexual misconduct of those in public office, the opioid epidemic, accidents and disturbing social and political issues, it seems like every day is a struggle to survive. Even for the most committed Christian, it can be a challenge to remain hopeful in a world that seems hopeless. But the good news is that we can.

Photo of David Franklin at NAD's eHuddle 2018 by Pieter Damsteegt

Story by V. Michelle Bernard / Photo by Pieter Damsteegt, NAD Communication

This week church leaders, local pastors and institutional leaders from across the Seventh-day Adventist church in North America gathered to discuss ways to collaborate to reach, retain and reclaim the people of North America with Jesus’ message and mission.

Topics covered included church revitalization, the trend of aging churches, ministering to large people groups (such as single mothers and their families) and how to reach missing Adventist members.

Story by Katie Solovey

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has recognized Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville, Md., for its demonstrated expertise and commitment in treating patients who come to the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab for care. Shady Grove earned Cardiac Cath Lab Accreditation with PCI in January based on a rigorous onsite study of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients. Shady Grove is the only hospital in the Northeast and one of only two hospitals in the U.S. to hold this accreditation.

Story by Heidi Shoemaker
 
Last September Ron Halvorsen Jr, Ohio Conference president, spent more than a week in Ghana training 50 lay pastors and elders to preach. This month two Ohio Conference pastors, Ron Anderson (pictured with members in Ghana) and Tom Hughes, traveled to Ghana to begin meetings of their own as part of Pentecost 2018. Hughes recently spoke to 1,500 university students, 90 percent of whom were not Christians. He has reported dozens of decisions made for baptism.
 
"There have been 20 baptisms so far from Elder Anderson's meetings," shares Halvorsen. "Ron also helped train three theology majors from our university in Accra Ghana (Valley View University). God is good!"