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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Kettering Health Team Members Turn Compassion Into Action

Story by Garrett Conti

Kettering Health aspires to recognize the whole patient by supporting the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being in every interaction. It’s a value that radiation therapists Jessica Schwab, Zach Gregus and Crystal Bullock have taken to heart.

The trio spearheaded Coats for a Cure, which partners with local hospitals to establish Care Closets. The Dayton-based nonprofit, founded in October 2025, opened its first closet at Kettering Health Main Campus on Jan. 6 and added a second with a ribbon cutting Jan. 21 at Soin Medical Center.

Finding Hope in the Midst of Loss

Potomac Conference, Finding Hope in the Midst of Loss, Grief, Mental Health Manna, Paul Graham, Garry Graham and Patrick Graham

Story by Debra C. Anderson

Just two weeks after his installation at the Renewed church in Aspen Hill, Md., Pastor Paul Graham found himself leading his new congregation through an unexpected season of grief. Within 14 days, four members passed away, leaving the church family navigating what many described as compounded loss.

Washington Adventist University President to Transition to New Role

Washington Adventist University (WAU) today announced that President Weymouth Spence, Ed.D., will conclude his tenure as president, effective June 30, 2026, and will transition to a new role, effective July 1, 2026.

In this new role, Dr. Spence will devote his attention to advancing critical campus infrastructure initiatives central to WAU's long-term success. He will build on the momentum of the university’s Vision 2030 plan to drive academic innovation, strengthen partnerships and increase institutional visibility to enhance the learning environment for student success.