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Clergy

SOC 21-2011.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers ordained clergy practice across congregational, chaplaincy, and denominational settings, from supervised entry-level ministry through executive leadership of large faith institutions.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Sacred texts such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran — read aloud and interpret under the guidance of a supervising clergy member during introductory worship services.
  2. Prayer and devotional content — lead structured prayers following established liturgical formats in a supervised congregational setting.
  3. Sermon preparation — draft basic homilies or talks by applying foundational theology learned during graduate-level ministerial training.
  4. Religious conversion instruction — assist in presenting introductory catechetical or faith-formation content to seekers under clerical supervision.
  5. Religious rites and ordinances — observe and assist in administering established sacraments or ceremonial practices alongside a senior minister.
  6. Worship service logistics — coordinate scheduling and logistical support for regular religious services using calendar and scheduling software.
  7. Individual pastoral care — conduct initial supportive listening sessions with congregants experiencing personal or spiritual concerns, referring complex cases to senior clergy.
  8. Theological writing — produce brief articles or bulletin content on religious topics for review and approval by supervising clergy.
  9. Active listening skills — apply structured active-listening techniques when meeting with congregants in one-on-one ministry contexts for the first time.
  10. Communication tools — use office suite, word processing, and email software to prepare service materials, correspondence, and announcements for a faith community.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Weekly worship services — organize and lead complete religious services independently, integrating scripture reading, prayer, and community participation in a local congregational setting.
  2. Sermons and homilies — prepare and deliver engaging, theologically grounded sermons with reduced oversight, adapting content to the seasonal and pastoral needs of the congregation.
  3. Sacred scripture — select, interpret, and proclaim readings from sacred texts in a manner that connects doctrinal meaning to the lived experience of a diverse faith community.
  4. Faith-formation instruction — facilitate conversion or membership preparation classes, guiding seekers through doctrinal content and personal discernment over a structured curriculum.
  5. Pastoral counseling — provide ongoing individual and group counseling sessions addressing spiritual, emotional, and relational needs, applying therapeutic frameworks within a ministry context.
  6. Religious rites administration — administer sacraments, ordinances, and rites of passage such as baptisms, marriages, and funerals with appropriate theological and pastoral competence.
  7. Community education — deliver speeches, lead seminars, or write published articles that communicate religious values and ethical perspectives to both congregational and broader civic audiences.
  8. Congregational coordination — use scheduling, database, and presentation software to manage program calendars, volunteer rosters, and ministry events for a mid-sized faith community.
  9. Problem sensitivity in ministry — recognize emerging pastoral crises or community tensions and respond with timely, judgment-informed interventions in a parish or congregational environment.
  10. Spiritual formation practices — design and facilitate prayer groups, retreats, or devotional programs that deepen the spiritual life of congregants across varied age groups.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full-scope worship leadership — autonomously design, customize, and lead the complete liturgical life of a congregation, including non-routine ceremonial occasions and interfaith services.
  2. Advanced preaching — craft and deliver sermons across diverse formats and audiences that integrate rigorous exegesis, contemporary application, and persuasive rhetorical skill in complex ministry environments.
  3. Sacred text scholarship — apply advanced hermeneutical methods to interpret and teach from sacred texts, addressing difficult theological questions raised by congregants or public discourse.
  4. Complex pastoral counseling — manage long-term, multi-session counseling relationships involving grief, addiction, family conflict, or spiritual crisis, applying psychology and theology in integrated clinical-pastoral contexts.
  5. Conversion and discipleship programs — independently design and lead comprehensive faith-formation pathways from inquiry through full membership, tailoring content for diverse cultural and educational backgrounds.
  6. Religious rites in non-routine circumstances — administer sacraments and rites in challenging contexts such as hospital chaplaincy, prison ministry, or disaster response settings with pastoral sensitivity.
  7. Theological writing and media — author substantive theological articles, curriculum materials, or media content for denominational or public platforms, demonstrating command of communications and media tools.
  8. Interfaith and community engagement — represent the faith community in ecumenical councils, civic partnerships, or public forums, exercising nuanced social perceptiveness and negotiation in multi-stakeholder environments.
  9. Organizational judgment — make autonomous decisions regarding sensitive congregational matters including personnel, conflict resolution, and ethical dilemmas, drawing on advanced theological and administrative knowledge.
  10. Ministry team development — mentor associate clergy, seminarians, or lay leaders by modeling reflective ministry practice and providing structured feedback within a professional faith-community setting.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Institutional spiritual vision — set and articulate the long-range theological and missional direction of a large congregation, diocese, or denominational body, inspiring alignment across diverse ministry teams.
  2. Homiletical leadership — establish preaching standards and cultivate a culture of excellent proclamation across a faith institution by coaching clergy, developing curricula, and modeling exemplary sermon craft.
  3. Denominational doctrine and policy — lead the formulation or revision of official doctrinal statements, liturgical guidelines, or ethical policies at an organizational or regional denominational level.
  4. Systemic pastoral care strategy — design congregation-wide or multi-site pastoral care frameworks that integrate professional counseling referral networks, lay ministry training, and crisis-response protocols.
  5. Large-scale faith formation — oversee the development and deployment of comprehensive adult, youth, and conversion education programs spanning multiple congregations or a regional denominational structure.
  6. Public theological voice — represent the faith tradition authoritatively in national media, academic forums, or legislative contexts, shaping public discourse on ethics, spirituality, and social justice.
  7. Clergy formation and supervision — direct the recruitment, formation, credentialing, and ongoing professional development of ordained and licensed clergy across an organization or district.
  8. Institutional administration — provide executive leadership over budgeting, personnel systems, facilities, and strategic planning for a large faith institution using advanced data, spreadsheet, and management tools.
  9. Interfaith and civic diplomacy — lead high-stakes ecumenical negotiations, community coalition-building, or conflict-mediation initiatives that require advanced persuasion, integrity, and cross-cultural theological fluency.
  10. Legacy and succession planning — develop organizational infrastructure, mentorship pipelines, and knowledge-transfer systems that ensure the long-term spiritual health and leadership continuity of the faith community.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors66 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Administrator Pastor · Bishop · Brother · Campus Minister · Campus Pastor · Cantor · Catechist · Catholic Priest · Chancellor · Chaplain · Chaplain Resident · Children's Minister
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
SpeakingActive ListeningSocial PerceptivenessInstructingService OrientationJudgment and Decision MakingTime ManagementPersuasionReading ComprehensionWritingCoordinationNegotiationComplex Problem SolvingCritical ThinkingActive LearningLearning StrategiesMonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems Evaluation
Knowledge domains
Philosophy and TheologyEnglish LanguageAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingTherapy and CounselingCommunications and MediaPsychologySociology and AnthropologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityFine Arts
Abilities
Speech ClarityOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionSpeech RecognitionInductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityWritten ExpressionWritten ComprehensionDeductive ReasoningFluency of Ideas
Work styles
EmpathyCooperationDependabilityIntegritySincerityHumility
Technology
Electronic mail softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareInstant messaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwarePresentation softwareWord processing softwareInternet browser software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Pray and promote spirituality.
  2. Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
  3. Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
  4. Organize and lead regular religious services.
  5. Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
  6. Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
  7. Counsel individuals or groups concerning their spiritual, emotional, or personal needs.
  8. Administer religious rites or ordinances.
CIP education codes
39.060139.060239.060439.060539.069939.070139.070239.070651.1506

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.