Columbia Union News

Story by Visitor Staff / Photo by Leandro Lima

Nine students from academies within the Columbia Union Conference recently received the Office of Education’s annual Caring Heart Award. The following graduates were nominated for demonstrating a personal commitment to service and witnessing.

Blue Mountain Academy – Lorena D. Alves
Highland View Academy – Catarina Sanches
Lake Nelson Adventist Academy – Brendan Sierra
Pine Forge Academy – Jonathan Williamson
Richmond Academy – Wendy Reyes (pictured above with Principal Nancy Malashenko)
Shenandoah Valley Academy – Pedro Teste-Pereira
Spencerville Adventist Academy – Favour Ogbue
Spring Valley Academy – Janelle Richardson
Takoma Academy – Taylor A. Gordon

Story by Edwin Manuel Garcia/ Images by Brian Tagalog, Kristi Rutt, Marving Alegria, Goodness Mcfiberesima and Tracey Brown

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

This week the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided in favor of Jack Phillips, a Christian baker in Colorado, who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple because of his religious convictions. The case, watched closely by religious liberty experts, highlighted the tension between gay rights and same-sex interests and the rights of those with religious convictions who feel that providing certain services to same-sex individuals violates their right to practice their religion.

The couple filed a charge of discrimination, saying that Phillips violated the public accommodations law of Colorado that prohibits businesses from discriminatorily refusing services to protected classes, which include sexual orientation.

The Columbia Union Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS), NAD ACS and Allegheny East Conference's Miracle City church in Baltimore are partnering to help clean-up flood damage in Maryland. They need your help!

See the note from the NAD ACS for more information.