The Church of Greece has outlined new principles for how priests should use social media, warning against personal branding, unverified information and the misuse of confidential pastoral relationships.
The issue was discussed at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy, following a presentation by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida on the growing online presence of clergy.
The Church does not advocate a blanket ban on social media. Instead, the proposed guidelines stress discernment, restraint and responsibility when priests communicate online.
Ten Principles for Clergy on Social Media
The presentation set out ten principles for clergy who use digital platforms.
First, priests should remember that their role does not change when they go online. Their public presence should reflect their relationship with their bishop, their local church and the Holy Synod, rather than present them as independent ecclesiastical authorities.
The guidelines also call for restraint. Clergy do not need to comment publicly on every event or controversy. They should verify information before sharing it, particularly when it concerns individuals or serious social and church matters.
Disagreements online must not become excuses for insults, mockery, public humiliation or personal attacks. The presentation also stressed that confidential pastoral relationships must never become material for publicity.
Particular care is needed in private digital communications, where messages can be misunderstood, shared or taken out of context.
One of the central points concerned personal branding. The proposed principles warn priests against building online personalities around themselves. Their digital presence should direct people towards Christ and the Church, rather than turn a clergyman into a personality-driven brand.
The presentation also encouraged priests to use online communication to foster real-world encounters, parish participation and worship. It called for basic digital training so clergy can better understand how platforms operate, how they may encourage addiction and polarization, and what challenges artificial intelligence creates.
Social Media Can Reach Young People, but Requires Discernment
The Church‘s position recognizes that social media can help clergy communicate with the public, particularly younger generations.
The presentation rejected both uncritical acceptance of digital platforms and a fearful approach that would prohibit their use altogether. It instead emphasized discernment and the need to understand the purpose and consequences of online communication.
The discussion also followed the circulation of a video that reportedly showed the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki singing a traditional Asia Minor song with other clergy. The incident prompted renewed debate about how private moments involving church figures can be interpreted once they circulate publicly.
Speaking to Greece’s public broadcaster ERT, theology professor Ioannis Panagiotopoulos of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens said clergy hold public roles and should consider how their online presence relates to the institution they represent.
He also noted that social media can help the Church approach younger people, provided digital contact does not replace personal encounters and participation in church life.
The proposed principles reflect a wider challenge for religious institutions: how to remain present in a digital society without allowing online popularity to overshadow pastoral responsibility and the life of the local community.
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