LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The Presbyterian Church (USA) is looking for young ministers to fill empty pulpits, according to PCUSA News.

The church launched the Pastoral Leadership Search Effort to reverse the increase of Presbyterian congregations operating without permanent pastors.

Nearly one-third of the denomination's 11,000 congregations are without pastors. The problem is especially severe among small and rural churches.

The new search effort, a collaboration with the Fund For Theological Education Inc., will try to learn of potential church leaders as early as their high school years and to build a churchwide database of young candidates for ministry.

Attorney John Aldridge Sr., an elder at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, came up with the idea and has campaigned for it. Aldridge said the program was, "the infrastructure, the pipes and wires that give us the capability to proactively identify and engage gifted young leaders in the Presbyterian Church (USA)."

Young people may consent to have their names are added to the database. Nominees are given mentors, resources, parish internships and access to ministry programs in their areas. Their names are made available to Presbyterian seminaries.

So far, several dozen young people have been enrolled, and the pace of nominations is increasing.

"Congregations are excited about the program," said the Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, the program coordinator. "They're excited about the fact that there is a way for them to suggest ministry as a possibility for some of their talented young people in an intentional way that is easy for them."

"It's like we've planted the seeds," Aldridge said, "and the question is how many are going to sprout."

Three other protestant denominations -- Episcopal, United Methodist and United Church of Christ -- are watching the program closely and may model their own efforts after the Presbyterian campaign.