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.
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.
Story by Cerise Woodward
As greeting time approached during a recent Sabbath service, I braced myself. You know the moment. A well-meaning church member smiles warmly while at the pulpit and asks, “Do we have any visitors? Please stand and introduce yourself!” Then comes the invitation to “show God’s love” with enthusiastic hugs and handshakes.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Seventh-day Adventist camps in the North American Division. This summer, conferences within the Columbia Union will host six camps, in addition to many church-run day camps.
Washington Adventist University incoming freshman Franklin Diaz and Jennifer Perez (’29) have been selected to receive this year’s Next Generation Hispanic Pastor scholarships, provided by the Columbia Union and North American Division.
“There is a lack of pastors,” said Rubén A. Ramos, who recently retired as union vice president for Multilingual Ministries. “We need to encourage our young people who are considering ministry.”
Photos by Melvin Donadelle/Chesapeake Conference and Nicol Belvedere/North American Division
Forty-six Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) teams participated in the 2026 North American Division level event last weekend at Camp Hawthorne in Florida.
Here are the placements:
First Place
Allegheny East Conference
Community SDAC of Englewood Falcons Thrivin 5
Filipino-American Oxon Hill Oxen Warriors
Genesis Jaguars
Miracle City Knights 1
Muungano Shining Lions Zion Redeemed
Story by Jerry Woods
Thousands of people from Washington, D.C., to countries around the world came together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at the 46th annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Lincoln Memorial with National Community Church. From 1979, when 127 people gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with Capital Church, to today, when thousands gathered for this service, it has become one of D.C.’s foremost traditions. Several years ago, National Community Church took up the mantle of running the service.