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.

Learn More

Adventist HealthCare has been named to Newsweek’s 2025 list of Most Trustworthy Companies in America. The rankings were determined by examining three main public pillars of trust – customer trust, potential investor trust, and potential employee trust – as well as evaluating online remarks.

Of the thousands of companies that met the initial analysis threshold across all industries, only 700 companies were named most trustworthy nationwide, including only 16 Maryland-based companies.

In the Healthcare and Life Sciences category, which included a broad range of health systems, pharmaceutical companies, online wellness firms and other health services, Adventist HealthCare ranked 17th out of the 33 organizations named.

2025 Columbia Union Conference Evangelism directors

Story by V. Michelle Bernard

Today, the Evangelism directors from the various conferences within the Columbia Union are convening at the Chesapeake Conference headquarters in Columbia, Md., to engage with Columbia Union leadership and fellow colleagues.

José D. Espósito, the union’s assistant to the president for Evangelism, organized the gathering for participants to exchange updates on their respective territories, gain insights into the activities within the North American Division and foster collaboration.

Story by Michele Joseph, photos by Elisabeth Zeller

The doctor is in.

In November, doctors, nurses and representatives from the biggest health care organizations in the northern Virginia joined forces for the Vienna Health Fair hosted by Potomac Conference's Vienna church  and Vienna Adventist Academy in Virginia.

Sabbath school classrooms became clinics and the gymnasium transformed into a diagnostic center and medical information hub. Visitors and members received eye exams, blood pressure checks, flu vaccinations and physician consultations and dental screenings all for free.

Lucas Chow (’27), William Miongo (’27), Andrew Pozo (’28) and Samuel Joel (’28) pause to pray during the academy’s spiritual retreat.

Story by Lauren Esveld

This year’s spiritual retreat for Spencerville Adventist Academy took place at the restful Mount Aetna Camp and Retreat Center in Hagerstown, Md. Having a spiritual retreat at the beginning of the school year served as a refreshing pause that fostered unity among the students and led to reflection and spiritual growth.

The weekend centered on the powerful theme found in John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV).

Photo by Παῦλος from Pixabay
By Robert Becay
 
Robert Becay, a newly baptized member from Ohio Conference's Medina church, shares what being part of Christ's family means to him.   
 
Being part of the family of Christ means more than sharing a name or a creed. It is an invitation into a new kind of kinship built not on bloodlines or social status, but on grace, trust and a common journey toward wholeness. In this family, belonging is rooted in the radical idea that every person is seen, cherished and invited to participate in the divine promise of love transforming the ordinary into something holy.