CHICAGO--The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has launched a new Web site: "People and Places Online" -- http://www.elca.org/peopleandplaces -- to help the church's lay ministers find new ministries within the church, according to the ELCA News Service.

A growing number of congregations, institutions and agencies recognize that ordained ministers aren't the church's only "well-trained ministry specialists," said the Rev. Richard J. Bruesehoff, director for leadership support, ELCA Division for Ministry.

"Rostered lay persons are specialists in education, youth ministry, music, administration, counseling, spiritual formation, evangelism and volunteer coordination. They may work as parish nurses, in campus ministry, community organizing or senior ministries," Bruesehoff said.

"How we can make congregations, institutions and agencies aware of these talented people, who also have the theological training that the church expects of its leaders?" Bruesehoff asked. "How do rostered lay leaders know which congregations, institutions and agencies of the ELCA are seeking to call people who have their training and expertise?"

"People and Places Online is designed to bring these institutions and individuals together," he said.

Only synod staff will have access to information posted on the Web site -- the resumes of lay ministers seeking placement and the job openings of ELCA congregations, institutions and agencies -- to make any possible matches.

Lay ministers of the ELCA are associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers. The church's 10,721 congregations are organized into 65 synods, which maintain rosters of ordained and lay ministers.