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

What Does it Mean to Be “Warned” By an Annual Council Vote?

Photo of Walter Carson by Ricardo Bacchus

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

“To be warned is better than to be publicly reprimanded,” said Walter Carson, vice president and general counsel for the Columbia Union Conference, at the November Executive Committee meeting, talking about the Annual Council’s recent actions.

Carson explained to the group that a 2018 Annual Council action in Battle Creek, Mich., adopted a compliance document (link to it) that imposed sanctions or discipline on entities found to be in violation of various church documents or actions taken by a General Conference session.

The four disciplinary steps in the document were outlined:

Women Pastors and Chaplains Gather for Fellowship

Story by Visitor Staff / Photo by LaTasha Hewitt

Earlier this month, women pastors and chaplains from across the Columbia Union Conference gathered with union and conference administrators for the second time in two years. Before supper at the Sheraton Hotel in Columbia, Md., the attendees took part in a debriefing about Annual Council 2019 where Columbia Union President Dave Weigley shared what the newly issued “warning status” means, and what it does not mean.

Debra Brill, Longest-Serving Vice President at the North American Division, Retires

Story by Kimberly Luste Maran /NAD Communication / Image by Pieter Damsteegt

“It’s been my great joy to work with gifted leaders who love God and His church!” said Debra C. Brill, who retired on October 1, 2019, after serving the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (NAD) as a vice president for 21 years.

Kettering Adventist HealthCare makes key leadership transitions

Story by James Buechele

Kettering Adventist HealthCare is making two key leadership transitions.

George Lewis, president of Kettering Physician Network, has been named executive vice president of Physician Enterprise for Kettering Health Network. This new role combines the leadership of Kettering Physician Network and Kettering Physician Partners, Kettering Health Network’s clinically integrated network. Lewis will be responsible for advancing the network’s primary care services, including rural health clinics and On-Demand Care clinics. Lewis joined Kettering Health Network in 2013 as president of Kettering Physician Network.