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

Story by Valerie Morikone

Mountain View Conference member Charles Kilgore’s story involves many broken pieces, yet, throughout, God’s hand was on his life and brought about his return to the Seventh-day Adventist church of his childhood.

Growing up in Charleston, W.Va., I attended Charleston Junior Academy, an Adventist elementary school. At the age of 11, I was baptized by Pastor Kenneth Taylor of the Charleston church, following a series of meetings held by Joe Crews. School friends, loving teachers, church fellowship and the Pathfinder club positively impacted my life, yet there was no Christian influence at home.

Image by UzbekIL on Pixabay

Praise God for Seventh-day Adventist Education! During the COVID-19 crisis, I have seen our teachers rise to the challenge, ensuring that students have a safe online destination where they are continuing their classes and developing their relationship with Jesus. From online videos to Google Expeditions to prayer challenges with friends, they have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure their students are receiving robust education, and that they are ministered to emotionally and spiritually.

Image by coyot on Pixabay

How to Help Your Local Adventist School This Year

It is no secret that teachers are under a lot of pressure right now, balancing planning for a year of school online and/or in the classroom—a status easily subject to change—with their own health concerns and family needs.

“Most of our schools are facing a workload they aren’t used to, so to get COVID-19 ready, to get the school ready, is more work than we have the manpower to do,” says Roderick Kerbs II, principal of Chesapeake Conference’s Mt. Aetna Adventist School in Hagerstown, Md.