In the context of the digital transformation, the clergy functions as a unique spiritual workforce whose mission is the ethical and psychological guidance of communities. Today, the members of these communities ("parishioners") are deeply embedded in a digital ecosystem that generates new and complex existential challenges: algorithmic addiction, social isolation, ideological disinformation, and anxieties related to the intersection of technology and humanity, such as transhumanism. These issues inevitably enter the pastoral sphere, demanding a new set of competencies from priests.

However, traditional clerical training, specific to seminaries and theological faculties, has been slow to adapt to this new reality. Curricula rarely include dedicated modules on digital ethics, internet sociology, or the pastoral implications of Artificial Intelligence. This discrepancy creates a significant competency gap, leaving many clergy unprepared to effectively address the problems their parishioners face in their daily lives.

The primary purpose of this study is to identify and map the key competencies and strategic frameworks necessary for effective pastoral ministry in the 21st century. The research aims to define a model of the "digital shepherd", a spiritual guide equipped not only with theological knowledge but also with the discernment and skills required to navigate and provide guidance in a novel digital landscape.

This goal is pursued by answering the following research questions, based on the analysis of the perceptions of Orthodox clergy in Romania: 1) What new professional challenges does the digital environment pose to pastoral practice? 2) What specific competencies (technical, ethical, communicational) are necessary for priests to effectively guide their communities? 3) What are the competing institutional strategies the Church can adopt in the online environment (e.g., defensive isolation vs. missionary engagement)?

The study employs a qualitative methodology, focusing exclusively on the in-depth analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with 8 Orthodox Christian clergy in Romania. The sample is diverse, including parish priests, monastics with technical backgrounds, and academic theologians, to ensure a comprehensive perspective on the professional challenges across different segments of the Church.

Thematic analysis of the transcripts focused on identifying recurrent themes related to the professional practice of the clergy. These include pastoral care strategies in the digital environment, debates on the Church's institutional policy towards technology, the personal difficulties of priests in using new media, and, most importantly, the perceived deficits in their own professional training to face these new realities.