September 20, 2004
by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently launched a new Web-based employment referral site that adds mission and volunteer opportunities in this country and around the world to the denomination's online search service for church professionals.

The "One Door" site, which became operational in June, offers opportunities for volunteer and mission service as well as non-clergy positions in the PC(USA)'s national offices in Louisville.

One Door builds on the success of the PC(USA)'s Church Leadership Connection (CLC), a Web-based matching and referral system founded in 1999, which serves pastoral search committees and church professionals.

Plans are underway to fully integrate CLC and the One Door system so those logging on will be able to enter "one door" to service.

"According to Presbyterian theology all of us have a calling," said the Rev. Marcia Clark Myers, the PC(USA)'s Associate Director for Leadership and Vocation. "Whether it's being a social worker or a minister or someone who works here at the (Presbyterian) center, God calls us to use our gifts to serve in our life work. So by creating this system it is our hope to live out our theology."

Users logging onto One Door - http://www.pcusa.org/onedoor/- may view descriptions of positions, submit a personal profile or refer themselves for a wide variety of opportunities within the PC(USA).

Currently, church professionals seeking denominational employment can view job openings over the One Door site, but will continue to apply through the Church Leadership Connection - http://www.pcusa.org/clc/.

The One Door site, which is free of charge, is a cross-divisional effort by various PC(USA) departments.

"I think one of the things that's exciting about One Door is we (the church) have such a reputation for fragmentation," said Katherine T. (K.T.) Ockels, the PC(USA)'s coordinator for the Mission Service Recruitment office. "I think it's really exciting for us to have a place that shows that we are one body."

Presbyterian News Service