VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 6/20/16)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) announces 2015 statistics for American Baptist Personnel Services (ABPS), a database storage-and-retrieval ministry that serves the denomination by matching employment-seeking ministry professionals with churches and ministry organizations striving to fill available ministerial positions. With an eye toward improving and expanding the service, ABHMS is currently conducting a comprehensive review of ABPS.

ABPS allows professional individuals to create and maintain up-to-date personnel profiles. Eligibility and enrollment information is available online. In addition, ABPS publishes “Ministry Opportunities,” an online list of employment opportunities reported by regional and national units of American Baptist Churches USA. Subscription information is available online.

Statistics for 2015 include the following: 98 new enrollments; 251 full profile updates; and 501 interim updates, consisting of minor changes to profiles, such as email addresses. Three hundred twenty-six searches were completed for 30 American Baptist regions, generating 12,674 professional profiles for access by employment search committees.

As part of its review of ABPS, ABHMS is seeking users’ input regarding the service. ABHMS recently emailed a survey to approximately 9,000 American Baptists to solicit opinions regarding the ways in which ABHMS and ABPS can enhance relationships, networking and collaboration among American Baptist religious professionals, including nonprofit administrators, chaplains, pastoral counselors, religious educators and seminarians. To participate in the survey, visit https://www.research.net/r/ABHMS_ABPS_SURVEY by midnight on June 25.

In 2014, ABPS became more user-friendly by instituting online enrollment and updating capabilities, eliminating the need for users to complete 10-15 pages of written paperwork.

“The online system has encouraged more people to enroll and update their profiles. It also reduces the time it takes for a profile to become available for those looking for a new position,” says Diane Sypherd, ABPS associate manager. “We are currently assisting more than 300 professional leaders through the process.”

For more information about ABPS, visit http://www.abhms.org/ > ABPS, or contact Cindy Hawk, ABPS assistant, at Cindy.Hawk@abhms.org or 1-800-392-2343.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on leadership, discipleship and healing communities.

American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with over 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.