Southern Union Conference

What Southern Union Conference does

The Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is the regional administrative headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church across eight southeastern U.S. states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), headquartered at 302 Research Drive, Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Organized on April 9, 1901, the union coordinates eight constituent conferences, 1,149 churches, 212 companies, and over 301,000 church members within its territory. It is one of nine unions within the North American Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which has approximately 23 million members worldwide.

The organization's product and service portfolio consists of religious ministry programs, educational oversight, healthcare coordination, and ancillary administrative services rather than commercial technology products. Core offerings include evangelism resources (Tell the World lay evangelism, RAMP for re-engaging disconnected members, the annual Evangelism Conference EC3), educational programs (Adventist EDGE across childcare centers and K-12 schools, three universities: AdventHealth University, Oakwood University, and Southern Adventist University), healthcare ministry coordination through AdventHealth, the Southern Union Revolving Fund (SURF) providing low-cost loans to churches, twelve Adventist Book Centers, nine summer camps, nine radio stations, and humanitarian services through Adventist Community Services including disaster response. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard administrative systems operated by the SUITS information systems department.

Revenue is generated through a tithe and offering redistribution system from constituent conferences, in alignment with North American Division policy, supplemented by returns from the Revolving Fund investment instrument (Demand Notes at 3.5%, Loans at 5.0% as of February 2026), tuition and fees across 19,000+ K-16 students at 175+ campuses, book and publishing sales, camp fees, and donations for global mission and humanitarian programs. The organization operates as a 501(c)-equivalent religious non-profit under the governance of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with no venture capital, private equity, or public ownership. No commercial pricing applies to core ministry services.

Name

Southern Union Conference

Legal name

Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Website

https://southernunion.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1901

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Southern Union Conference is the regional administrative headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church across eight southeastern U.S. states, coordinating 1,149 churches, 212 companies, 301,000+ members, three universities, and healthcare, education, and evangelism ministries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Administration

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

Keywords

• Religious organization administration
• Denominational ministry services
• Christian education system
• Evangelism program resources
• Faith-based community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Peachtree Corners

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes and Offerings: The Southern Union receives financial support through tithe and funding from constituent conferences. The organization administers these resources in harmony with the North American Division policy and supports various ministries including global mission, educational institutions, and healthcare ministry.
2. Revolving Fund (SURF): The Southern Union Revolving Fund provides low-cost loans to churches and institutions across the Southern Union while providing a reasonable rate of return to investors. As of February 2026, Demand Notes are at 3.5% and Loans at 5.0%.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Southern Union Conference serves as the administrative headquarters coordinating Seventh-day Adventist ministries across eight conferences in eight southeastern U.S. states. It delivers evangelism programs (Tell the World, RAMP, EC3 conference), K-16 Christian education across 175+ campuses, healthcare ministry coordination through AdventHealth, humanitarian and disaster response services via Adventist Community Services, religious liberty advocacy, publishing through 12 Adventist Book Centers, summer camp ministry, prison outreach, and the Southern Union Revolving Fund providing low-cost loans to member churches.

Product overview

The Southern Union Conference is the administrative headquarters for the Seventh-day Adventist Church serving eight conferences across eight southeastern states. Its product and service portfolio consists of religious ministry programs and administrative services rather than a unified technology product. Key offerings include the RAMP evangelism resource for reconnecting disconnected church members, the Adventist EDGE education program for childcare centers and schools, and Tell the World lay evangelism initiatives. The organization operates nine summer camps (including Camp Kulaqua and Cohutta Springs), twelve Adventist Book Centers, and healthcare facilities through AdventHealth. Additional ministries include Religious Liberty services with Government Liaison Representatives, the Southern Union Revolving Fund (SURF) providing low-cost loans to churches, Medical/Dental Ministries supporting health professionals, the annual Evangelism Conference (EC3), Adventist Community Services for disaster response and humanitarian aid, and Prison Ministries providing reentry support resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RAMP (Reconnecting Disconnected Members Program) A ministry resource for churches to reconnect with members who have left, providing practical methods for building bridges instead of walls with disconnected individuals. Targeted at pastors, evangelists, and church leaders in the Southern Union territory.
• Adventist EDGE The Southern Union's intentional effort to set the course for excellence in its childcare centers and schools, aligned with the North American Division Journey to Excellence. Aims to equip students to excel in faith, learning, and service.
• Tell the World (Lay Evangelism) A major component of the world Church vision focused on lay evangelism. Hundreds to thousands of lay members from the Southern Union have preached evangelistic meetings, with goals including spiritual growth, community involvement, personal witness, city outreach, church planting, evangelistic programming, and media ministry.
• Summer Camps Program Nine summer camp programs across the Southern Union territory, including Camp Alamisco, Camp Hawthorne, Camp Kulaqua, Camp Thunderbird, Cohutta Springs Youth Camp, Indian Creek Camp, Nosoca Pines Ranch, Pine Lake Retreat Center, and River Oaks Camp, offering outdoor activities in a Christ-centered environment for youth and families.
• Healthcare Facilities and Services Healthcare facilities and services affiliated with AdventHealth operating within the Southern Union territory, providing medical and dental health professional ministries across the southeastern United States.
• Adventist Book Centers (Publishing) 12 Adventist Book Centers (ABCs) and several bookmobiles across the Southern Union Conference overseeing the literature ministry that spreads the three angels' message through printed and digital resources.
• Religious Liberty Services Religious Liberty ministry providing Government Liaison Representatives (GLR) in each state, NARLA Southern Chapter, Liberty Magazine distribution to officials, Sabbath workplace accommodation assistance, and the Southern Society of Adventist Attorneys network.
• Southern Union Revolving Fund (SURF) Low-cost loans to churches and institutions across the Southern Union Conference while providing reasonable rate of return to investors. Considered a 90-day demand note with current rates of 3.5% for Demand Notes and 5.0% for Loans (effective February 1, 2026).
• Medical/Dental Ministries Educational and spiritual growth opportunities, financial moving allowances, and encouragement for physicians and dentists practicing in the Southern Union Territory, with visits to Loma Linda School of Medicine and School of Dentistry twice each year.
• Evangelism Conference (EC3) An annual conference providing training, networking, and inspiration for evangelists, pastors, lay pastors, Bible workers, and church administrators involved in evangelism. Scheduled annually in the fall (next instance November 1-3).
• Adventist Community Services (ACS) Humanitarian agency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church operating within the United States and Bermuda, meeting immediate needs through social services including tutoring, mentoring, health screening, education, inner city missions, and disaster response.
• Prison Ministries Resources and leadership to constituent conferences' Prison Ministries personnel to bring hope and support to incarcerated individuals, including Steps for Strengthening Prison Ministry and guidelines for religious visits with inmates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 301,000+ church members served across the territory
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• General Conference of Seventh-day AdventistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Southern Union is one of the constituent unions of the General Conference, which oversees the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church with headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• North American DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Southern Union is one of 9 union conferences (including Canada) which comprise the North American Division, serving Bermuda, Canada, and the United States with headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
• AdventHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of a worldwide network of Seventh-day Adventist healthcare providers. AdventHealth oversees Adventist healthcare organizations in the Southern, Midwestern, and Southwestern states. The Southern Union connects members with healthcare facilities and services.
• AdventHealth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated near downtown Orlando, specializes in allied health and nursing education. Partners closely with AdventHealth (formerly Florida Hospital) in providing students with clinical experience. Owned by Florida Hospital.
• Oakwood UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn accredited co-education university located in Huntsville, AL, offering a liberal arts curriculum of mostly undergraduate degrees. Owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• Southern Adventist UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn accredited co-educational university located near Chattanooga, TN, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
• It Is WrittenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA donor-supported ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with reach extending to at least 143 countries. An average of 900,000 people visit the website monthly to watch the program and obtain Bible studies.
• Breath of LifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to sharing the healing Gospel of Jesus Christ in the context of the Three Angels' Messages of Revelation 14 through production and distribution of Christ-centered quality television and media programs.
• Adventist Risk Management, Inc. (ARM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeadquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, provides risk management services and insurance products specifically designed to protect the ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide. Has served for more than 70 years.
• Adventist Laymen's Services & Industries (ASI)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA membership-based organization of Seventh-day Adventist laypeople who actively participate in the church's worldwide mission. The Southern Union Chapter is active with an annual spring conference.
• Camp KulaquaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in north-central Florida on 700 acres with natural spring. Hosts the Southern Union Pathfinder Camporee and accommodates over 1,000 people. Accredited by ACA and Christian Camp and Conference Association.
• Adventist EDGEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Southern Union's intentional effort to set the course for excellence in childcare centers and schools. Aligned with the North American Division Journey to Excellence, its goal is to equip students to excel in faith, learning, and service.
• Tell the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA major component of the world Church vision focused on lay evangelism. Hundreds to thousands of lay members from the Southern Union have preached evangelistic meetings. Goals include spiritual growth, community involvement, personal witness, city outreach, church planting, and media ministry.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Southern Adventist University: University affiliated with and owned by the Southern Union Conference. Comparable as an educational institution within the same network, serving the same faith-based student population with similar mission alignment.

Broad incumbents

• AdventHealth: Major healthcare system affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and operating extensively within the Southern Union territory. Comparable as a strategic ministry partner sharing the same faith-based mission and operating in the same geographic region.
• North American Division of SDA: Parent administrative body overseeing all SDA operations in the US, Canada, and Bermuda. Comparable as a larger hierarchical organization that the Southern Union reports to, providing policy, resources, and coordination.
• General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists: Worldwide headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Comparable as the ultimate parent organization providing doctrinal standards, global resources, and strategic direction that the Southern Union implements regionally.

Direct peers

• Florida Conference: Constituent conference of the Southern Union Conference serving Florida. Comparable as a SDA administrative body managing churches, schools, and ministries within a single state under the union conference structure.
• Carolina Conference: Constituent conference of the Southern Union Conference serving North and South Carolina. Directly comparable as a subordinate SDA administrative unit operating within the same organizational hierarchy.
• Lake Region Conference: Regional conference of Seventh-day Adventists serving a multi-state area. Comparable as a SDA administrative body coordinating churches, schools, and ministries, though smaller in geographic scope.
• Southwestern Union Conference: Sister union conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church covering Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Directly comparable administrative structure overseeing constituent conferences and ministries in a similar regional footprint.
• Pacific Union Conference: Another regional union conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church covering western states. Directly comparable as a sister administrative body coordinating multiple conferences, churches, schools, and ministries within a defined territory.

Regional players

• Baptist State Convention of North Carolina: State-level Baptist administrative body serving a similar southeastern US region. Comparable as a regional denominational administrative organization coordinating churches, missions, and ministries, though with different theology and governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/leadSU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pastorRogerHernandez
• Facebookfacebook.com/leadSU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-union-conference

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Southern Union Conference