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TOP FIVE
for
[October 22, 2026]
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Amid decline, US professions of faith rise
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UNITED METHODIST NEWS--The United Methodist Church continued to see its U.S. membership slide in 2025. But data collected by the denomination’s administrative agency also shows signs of growth. Read more...
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Support Wesley Housing this holiday season
The holiday season is a time for community, generosity, and caring for our neighbors. Through Wesley Housing's
Holiday Help program, you can help make the season brighter for families, teens, and adults living in our affordable housing communities across Virginia.
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Your gift can help provide warm winter essentials, meaningful holiday gifts, grocery support, and community celebrations that bring neighbors together during a season when connection matters most.
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Consider giving today and helping Wesley Housing “build up” our community and the lives of our neighbors with low incomes. Learn more...
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Article: Facebook’s New Two-Link Limit: What Churches Need to Know
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If you manage your church’s Facebook page, you may have seen a notice that your account will soon be limited to two link posts per month. A link post is a post that includes a link to something outside of Facebook, like your church website or an online giving page. You can still post as often as you like; the limit applies only to posts that send people off Facebook. This is a change to be aware of, not a reason to walk away from Facebook. With a little planning, your church can keep communicating well. Read more...
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2026 Conference Grants cycle now open
The Virginia Annual Conference Grantmaking Cooperative is accepting applications from October 1 through November 16, 2026. This year, the Cooperative is looking to fund initiatives across the Virginia Annual Conference that live out our connectional and missional calling, with the goal of large-scale community transformation. The Cooperative is looking for strong applications will show that the initiative to be:
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- coordinated among multiple United Methodist congregations and ministry expressions
- has defined, measurable impact in one or more communities
- promotes Wesleyan theology, ecclesiology, and praxis
- has buy-in from partner congregations and ministries
- is a new or renewed opportunity for partnership and community impact
Please note: grant funds may not be used for brick-and-mortar or overhead costs.
Plan to prepare the following:
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- a cover letter,
- executive summary,
- statement of need,
- detailed objective and strategy,
- plan of evaluation,
- and proposed budget.
If this project has operated in previous years, please include financial reports.
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How to apply:
1. Go to the application portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Opportunity/Catalog?urlkey=vaumc
2. New users: create an account for your organization. Returning users: log in with your existing credentials.
3. Complete the application. Your progress saves, so you can come back and finish later.
4. Submit by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, November 16, 2026. This is a firm deadline; the portal will not accept late submissions.
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Apply to Youth Service Fund missional grant
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The Youth Service Fund is a denominational missional grant fund that supports youth in mission in five areas: Faith Sharing and Outreach, Leadership Development, Scholarships for education/training, service, mission, or other ministries, ministry with at-risk youth, or agricultural or vocational development. These grants support local church youth from the Virginia conference in ministries that they lead, which also benefit youth, with funds raised by youth. The application for grants for 2027 is open now through February 1, 2027. Award decisions will come by March 1. To apply use this form. For more information, see the website: https://vaumc.org/youth-service-fund/.
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Subscribe to VAUMC communications
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Individuals can opt in to curated email subscriptions from VAUMC Communications.
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Offerings are:
• Obituaries (sent out as they are received by the Communications Office)
• Local Church events (sent out biweekly)
• Jobs (sent out biweekly)
• The Top Five (Every Thursday, this is a news wrap up to give clergy and laity the tops five news items going into the weekend
• Advocate newsletter (sent every Tuesday featuring Virginia UM and denominational news, grants, connection and educational opportunities)
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Public Notice Board
Have questions to crowd-source or looking for something? Find announcements or send in a posting to share conference-wide. Learn more...
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