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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Editorial by John Sackett, President and CEO of Adventist HealthCare

Every day, exceptional care is built through the moments that often go unseen. It is reflected in how our team greets a patient, listens to a concern, explains a procedure, supports a colleague, or follows through on a commitment. These moments shape experiences, build trust and define Adventist HealthCare as an organization.

That commitment has earned recognition through the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award process. We have been selected for a site visit in fall 2026, marking a significant milestone in our pursuit of performance excellence.

 

Washington Adventist University and three-time NBA All-Star and Takoma Park native Steve Francis have launched the Steven Francis Scholarship Fund, a new initiative opening doors to higher education for young people from the community that raised him and honoring the memory of the woman who raised him first. The fund was unveiled at the university's 13th Annual Visionaries Gala.

Long before "Stevie Franchise" became a household name, Francis was a kid growing up behind what was then Columbia Union College, lacing up his sneakers for church league games at Metro Seventh-day Adventist Church. It's the detail he returns to most when asked where his love of the game truly began, not an AAU circuit or a big-name gym, but a church league court, played for the joy of it.

Deyan Sight/Unsplash

Editorial by Carlos Portanova

How many times have we heard, “Share with others what Christ has done in your life?” Yet, many believers hesitate because they feel their testimony is not remarkable enough. We compare our experiences with the dramatic stories of Daniel, David, Esther or Ruth, and conclude that our own story is too ordinary to make a difference.

The power of a testimony, however, is not found in how extraordinary it seems—it is found in the God who is at work within it. The same God who transformed lives in Bible times is still changing hearts today through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Story by Becky St. Clair

We’ve all heard stories of hero animals who have rescued people from danger, or of beloved pets who have left a significant impact on someone’s life. Some animals are specifically trained to aid, heal or provide comfort and companionship as we face life’s challenges.

Throughout the Bible, “ministry” is simply defined as meeting a need. Perhaps some of the most powerful examples of selfless, intentional care don’t come from the pulpit but from animals.