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.

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Story by North American Division Office of Communication

The North American Division (NAD) of Seventh-day Adventists is joining the Church’s worldwide movement to share the hope of Jesus Christ through All Things New, the public-facing expression of the global OneVoice27 initiative.* Through OneVoice27, the NAD is looking to mobilize members, churches, schools, ministries, conferences, and unions around a shared mission focus leading to September 2027.

The Center for Youth Evangelism has officially appointed Pedro Perez as the new Pathfinder Camporee director. Perez steps into the role succeeding Ron Whitehead, who provided visionary leadership as both the CYE executive director and International Pathfinder Camporee director for 29 years.

Perez brings to the CYE a wealth of experience, most recently serving as the Pathfinder and Adventurer director for the Florida Conference since 2017. His extensive background in youth ministry also includes leading in the Florida Conference as Youth Ministries director (2010–2017) and previously serving as youth director for the Southern New England Conference.

Story by Eduardo Monteiro

The New Jersey Conference launched 2026 with its annual Regional Ministries Training, held across its three regions: north, central and south.

The excitement was evident from the start as lay leaders gathered with a shared desire to grow and serve more effectively. Departmental leaders and conference staff led seminars designed to provide practical tools, resources and guidance to strengthen ministry in local churches.

Nearly 1,000 church leaders participated in the training, with more than half attending for the first time.