Columbia Union Conference

The Columbia Union Conference exists to advance and fulfill the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Mid-Atlantic United States. We provide administrative leadership, governance, and support services to our conferences, ministries, healthcare networks, elementary and secondary schools, college and university. Above all, we assist and enhance the ministry of these organizations in sharing the three angels’ messages and preparing people—locally and globally—for Christ’s soon return.

The Columbia Union Conference serves as the regional headquarters for a cluster of conferences located in the eight states that comprise the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

It was formally organized in 1907 and began operations on January 1, 1908. Headquarters were located adjacent to Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Md., until 1980 when it moved to its present location in Columbia, Md. The first president was W.J. Fitzgerald. At the time of formation, the Columbia Union Conference consisted of 187 churches and 5,320 members. Today, there are nearly 800 churches and almost 140,000 members.

The Columbia Union, as it's often called, exists to coordinate the mission and work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Mid-Atlantic United States. It provides administrative support to its eight conferences, two healthcare systems, 109 elementary and secondary schools, and two colleges. It facilitates and engages members and organizations in community services, mission work at home and abroad, evangelism, effective leadership and governance, strategic planning, and other mission-focused initiatives. It also supports members by assisting with religious liberty issues, offering ministry training and networking opportunities, and helping them plan wills and trusts.

To keep members informed about the work of churches, conferences, schools, healthcare organizations, and ministries within the Columbia Union, it publishes the Visitor, a monthly news magazine; sponsors a Web site; and distributes news updates via e-mail.

Entities

Conferences:

Allegheny East Conference
Allegheny West Conference
Chesapeake Conference
Mountain View Conference
New Jersey Conference
Ohio Conference
Pennsylvania Conference
Potomac Conference

Health Care Networks:
Adventist HealthCare
Kettering Adventist HealthCare

Education:
Washington Adventist University
Kettering College