Departments
Administration
President
The president’s office assists in fostering the collective ministry and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the Southern Union Conference. Membership growth, evangelism, church planting, tithe and funding the mission, literature evangelism, K-16 Adventist education, healthcare ministry, global mission — all these and more are supported and reported to the constituency by the president, who also thrives on vehemently engaging and conducting evangelistic meetings.
Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary ensures smooth administrative operations of the Southern Union and its associated entities. He assists the President in preparation for executive committees, union sessions, and departmental councils. He is also responsible for the preparation and distribution of minutes to the Union’s boards and committees.
Treasurer
The Treasurer in the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists oversees the flow of financial resources coming from constituent conferences, and administers them in harmony with the North American Division’s policy.
Undertreasurer
The Undertreasurer serves the Union by assisting the Treasurer in maintaining financial stability across the Southern Union. He is responsible for audit preparation and is the treasurer’s assistant for representation and document signing.
Ministries and Services
Adult Sabbath School
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates a weekly Bible study for all age groups in almost every church around the world. The Sabbath School program is a Bible based study which nurtures spiritual growth in members and visitors with many topics catered to meet specific needs in the congregation or community.
Adventist Community Services (ACS)
Adventist Community Services is the humanitarian agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that works within the United States and Bermuda. Adventist Community Services meets people’s immediate needs through social services including…
Adventist Laymen’s Services & Industries (ASI)
ASI is a membership-based organization of Seventh-day Adventist laypeople who are enthusiastic about actively participating in the church’s worldwide mission: to spread the gospel of Christ to the world. This unique and diverse group of members ranges from business owners to individual professionals to supporting ministries.
Adventist Risk Management
Adventist Risk Management, Inc. (ARM), headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, is a ministry of active stewardship. For more than 70 years we have provided risk management services and insurance products specifically designed to protect the ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide.
Archives
The Archives gathers, preserves, records, and publishes the history of the Southern Union Conference. It also responds to requests from those seeking information, documents, or photos related to the history of the Southern Union.
Association
The Association serves primarily in legal and trustee capacity for the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It serves the Southern Union by managing the Southern Union’s buildings, land, equipment, and repairs and maintenance.
Chaplaincy
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM), serves Adventist chaplains and individuals who are planning on or currently serving in the Armed Forces.
Church Growth & Revitalization
Evangelism plays a key role in the growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. To make evangelism as effective as possible, the Southern Union Conference Church Growth Department helps churches grow by supporting the local conferences, ministries, and work of the pastors and local church leaders.
Communication
The Department of Communication provides communication and support services for the Southern Union Conference, as well as the local conferences, universities, and other entities in its territory through training, consulting, and information sharing.
Disability Ministries
Twenty five years ago, on July 26, 1989, the Americans with Disabilities Act, a civil rights law for people with disabilities, was signed by President George Bush, (and amended with changes in January, 2009). It defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.”
Education
The Education Department supports approximately 300 educational facilities across the Southern Union–childcare centers, pre-kindergarten thru grade 12 schools, and 3 universities–which employ over 1000 educators who together educate more than 17,000 students annually.
Family Ministries
The media regularly report on families that are falling apart. Whether it is due to divorce, death, or other reasons, these problems are not part of God’s plan.
Health Ministries
Close to 86 million American adults have prediabetes; 90% of them don’t know it. Diabetes is a rampant ugly disease that is stealing the health and life of millions.
Hispanic Ministries
The Hispanic Ministries department is dedicated to reaching the Spanish-speaking population in the Southern Union Conference region, and ministers to the church members as they prepare for Heaven.
Human Resources
People are the heartbeat of the Southern Union. The Human Resources Department supports this heartbeat by providing a resource for the employees and conferences of the Southern Union.
Information Systems
The Southern Union Information Technology Services (SUITS) Department exists to serve the internal needs of the Church, so that pastors, teachers, administrators, and staff can dedicate themselves to preaching, teaching, and governance in His Church. Our ministry is to aid and support the ministry, just as Stephen did in the early Church.
Medical/Dental Ministries
The Southern Union Medical/Dental Department provides educational and spiritual growth opportunities, financial assistance*, and encouragement to all physicians and dentists who are practicing in the Southern Union or who would like to relocate to the Southern Union Territory. We value all health care professionals and encourage them to utilize their profession to share the love of Christ and the Good News of His soon return in the workplace.
Men’s Ministries
The Southern Union Conference Men’s Ministry provides training and support for men’s ministry leaders throughout the southeastern United States. Through a wide variety of events and resources our growing network of churches actively seek to educate, equip, and empower men to succeed and lead in areas of life that matter most. Join the movement!
Ministerial & Evangelism
The Southern Union Conference Ministerial Association provides nurture and support to conference leadership, pastors and evangelists as they minister to and share the good news of salvation with hundreds of small groups, companies, and churches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Personal Ministries
Are you ready for the Kingdom of God? The Southern Union Personal Ministries department desires that everyone will be ready for God’s Kingdom.
Planned Giving/Trust Services
Here at Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, part of our function is to serve you and your family with helpful information.
Prayer Ministries
Prayer is a two-way conversation in which believers listen to God and talk to Him. In Steps to Christ it says “Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend… Through sincere prayer we are brought into a connection with the mind of the Infinite…but without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path.”*
Prison Ministries
Prisons around the country are filled to capacity with inmates, but is God’s message of forgiveness and hope also entering these prisons? The Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists’ Prison Ministries department strives to meet each inmate where they are and bring them the message of God’s forgiveness, righteousness, and plan for a better life.
Publishing
Printed materials have always been an important part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In fact, even before the Seventh-day Adventist Church had an official name, the power of the press was being utilized to reach the hearts and minds with the gospel message.
Religious Liberty
In the spirit of Christ we are working to defend, preserve, and expand religious liberty.
Revolving Fund
If you have made a large purchase, such as a house, car, or other big-ticket item, you may have needed a loan from your local bank or mortgage agency to help pay for the item.
Stewardship
Stewardship is the lifestyle of one who accepts Christ, walking in partnership with God and acting as God’s agent to manage His affairs on earth. It is a way of showing gratitude to God for the many blessings he has given us and neither begins nor ends with money.
Treasury
In today’s society, more attention is being focused on companies’ financial responsibility. In the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, this responsibility is handled by the Treasury Department.
Women’s Ministries
The Southern Union Department of Women’s Ministries exists to uphold, encourage, and challenge Seventh-day Adventist women in their daily walk as disciples of Jesus Christ. Our mission is accomplished through effectual prayers as we seek God to build His kingdom through significant ministries and effective D.R.E.A.M.S.
Youth Ministries
Young people play an important role in the church. In the Southern Union, youth are encouraged to become involved! Youth helped start the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Southern Union believes in continuing the tradition of youth involvement.
Conferences
Georgia-Cumberland Conference
Serving Georgia, Eastern Tennessee, and Cherokee County, North Carolina
South Atlantic Conference
Serving regional conference churches in the Carolinas and North and Central Georgia
South Central Conference
Serving regional conference churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and the portion of Florida lying west of the Apalachicola River
Southeastern Conference:
Serving regional conference churches in Florida except the portion west of the Apalachicola River, and southern Georgia
Affiliates
General Conference
The Seventh-day Adventist Church serves a worldwide family with members in nearly every country covering the globe from its headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
North American Division
Comprised of 9 union conferences, serving Bermuda, Canada, and the United States with headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland
Local Conferences
The Southern Union Conference is home to 8 conferences serving the south east region of the United States.
AdventHealth
Part of a worldwide network of Seventh-day Adventist healthcare providers. AdventHealth oversees Adventist healthcare organizations in the Southern, Midwestern and Southwestern states of the United States.
AdventHealth University
Located near downtown Orlando, specializes in allied health and nursing education and partners closely with internationally recognized Florida Hospital in providing students with clinical experience. Owned by Florida Hospital.
Oakwood University
An accredited co-education university located in Hunstville, AL, offering a liberal arts curriculum of mostly undergraduate degrees. Owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Southern Adventist University
An accredited co-educational university located near Chattanooga, TN, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
It Is Written
Is a donor-supported ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the program’s reach extends to at least 143 countries. Each month, an average of 900,000 people visit the website to watch the program and to obtain Bible studies.
Breath of Life
Is dedicated to sharing the healing Gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. This is done through the production and distribution of Christ centered quality television and media programs and support materials that are intellectually stimulating, Bible-based, and designed to help people choose a quality of life found only in following Christ.