June 2023
Dungeons & Dragons
Final-year ordinand Daniel Bishop asks what value the role-playing game may hold for sustainable and effective leadership in the Church.
Have you ever fought a dragon, saved a princess, or befriended a lowly Goblin who is desperately seeking their family?
Such experiences may seem otherworldly, as though they have leaped out of the pages of a J. R. R. Tolkien, George R. Martin, or Terry Pratchett novel; but you can experience them too. Dungeons and Dragons has been in the public eye since the 1980s but carries with it a long history of controversy and criticism. In the 80s, the game was accused of promoting Satanism, witchcraft and violence. In recent years, D&D has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity, and it is increasingly being viewed in a more positive light. The game has been featured in popular TV shows like Stranger Things and The Big Bang Theory, and D&D livestreams are some of the more popular gaming streams found on YouTube and Twitch. As a result, D&D is becoming seen less as a niche hobby and more as a legitimate form of entertainment and socialisation.
The question, therefore, might be what such a game offers to the Church? The answer may be that the game offers a lot for the Church’s leaders. In playing the game, participants can develop greater levels of self-understanding as they embody a character. In addition, skills in boundary setting, emotional intelligence and promoting personal wellbeing are all developed by regular engagement with the game. Such skills are invaluable for ministry, but the benefits of the game do not stop here.
Traditionally, critical reflection, pastoral care, conflict management, team management, establishing vision and public speaking are all skills that have to be practised in “real-world” environments. However, entering into the fantasy world of D&D provides a safe and secure, consequence-free environment where these essential tasks of ministry can be formed and honed.
Daniel recently spoke at the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium conference on “Theology, Religion, and Dungeons & Dragons.” He presented an essay he is currently writing on the topic of “Dungeons, Dragons and Effective Leadership: Can Tabletop Role-Playing Games be Utilized in Forming and Sustaining Clergy in Ministry, and if so, how?”
If you are interested in learning more about the topic, Daniel is happy to share his work with others who would like to read it. He is also willing to provide helpful resources on how to find or establish your own D&D games for those who may be interested. Email: dan.bishop@wearewoven.church
