Chesapeake Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

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Chesapeake Conference History

The Seventh-day Adventist message was preached in the territory of the present Chesapeake Conference as early as 1851 by the hardy pioneer, Joseph Bates. In 1899 the Chesapeake Conference was organized, composed of Delaware, Maryland (except three counties), and the District of Columbia. In an area population of 1.5 million, there was a conference membership of 700 with two ordained ministers, two licentiates, three Bible instructors, four canvassers, and one test master.

Presently, the conference office is located off Rt. 29 in Columbia, Maryland next to the Atholton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Delaware, Maryland (except two counties and including only portions of two counties), two counties in Virginia, and three counties in West Virginia constitute the Chesapeake Conference. The conference serves a population of 5.2 million with 275 employees, 57 churches, 10 companies, and 15 schools.

The conference administrative staff consists of three officers, three department directors, and 13 support personnel. Our mission is to provide pastoral leadership for the churches, serve as resource personnel and a resource center, and foster a mutual accountability to accomplish the Lord’s work.