The Office of the General Assembly has launched the new Church Leadership Connection (CLC), the internet-based matching and referral system of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Beginning Monday, call seeking individuals and call providers can access the new system at clc.pcusa.org.
The old system, including active Minister Information Forms and Personal Information Forms, will remain available for the next three months. The Rev. Manuel Silva-Esterrich, manager of Call Process Support, said all individuals and organizations using the old system should move to the new one no later than August to keep their search process active.
The redesigned landing page includes a login for call seekers and call providers, as well as a public opportunity search that is accessible on the left side of the screen under the heading “Discerning your Call.”
Landing page, clc.pcusa.org, June 2023
CLC specializes in assisting pastors, committees on ministry, committees on preparation for ministry, executive presbyters, stated clerks, pastor nominating committees and clerks of session. Staff members from the Office of the General Assembly including Silva-Esterrich, the Rev. Mason Todd and Ruling Elder Eva Rebozo manage the system.
The new CLC includes a task-based interphase that allows calling organizations more flexibility carrying out steps involved in matching a pastor with a congregation; automated information sharing between call seekers and organizations; expedited application submission and approval; easy withdrawal from consideration by candidates; and easy notification of decisions by calling organizations. The new system also has an improved look and user experience, including a dashboard with to-do tasks and notifications from CLC staff members.
Silva-Esterrich said that individuals and organizations signed up to the new system will be able to access a mid council leader presentation webinar video in EQUIP, and soon training videos. Public searchers can access the video from the CLC page of pcusa.org.
“Matching Results” slide from mid council leader presentation video, June 2023
The CLC team is planning to roll out additional features in the future, including call management options specific to the needs of seminaries and church agencies, such as a manager role for human resources departments. “We want to customize that for them,” Silva-Esterrich said.
Another planned feature will allow CLC to run custom reports that track changes in the overall call process, including hiring timelines, ways the call experience is different at large and small congregations and other information important to church groups.
As Silva-Esterrich said in a recent preview of the new CLC system, patient discernment, planning and teamwork were essential to building the system and powering its launch.
He praised Vicente Guna, Associate Director for Technologies, for guiding CLC staff members and the system development team at APAX Software, “not only through the tech process but the logical process of creating a new system from scratch that will support the whole denomination for many years to come.”
Silva-Esterrich also lifted up Omar Chan, who as a former CLC consultant assisted users from the old system. More recently, Chan’s work as a project manager in the Office of the General Assembly helped the CLC team “stay on task to complete our timelines,” Silva-Esterrich said.
The new system features increased automation for users, but questions can still be sent directly to CLC consultants by calling 844-984-2440 or sending an email to clcsupport@pcusa.org.
“We’re happy to guide anyone who needs it through the transition between the old and new system, the creation of discernment profiles or anything else,” Silva-Esterrich said. “We’re here to walk with you through this process.”
CLC leaders from mid council leader presentation video, June 2023