l
TOPCON – the Theology of Play Conference
March 26-29, 2025
-
Overview
Do you love playing board games? Have you ever wondered about the intersection of tabletop games and Christian formation? Then you should join us for our first ever Theology of Play Conference as we worship, learn, play games, and explore how a theology of play can change the way you see faith, your ministry and Christian formation.
We we know God liked playing (Platypus? Really? You can’t be serious!?) And we know that God works with a purpose so what does it mean to play together?
TOPCON! is the Theology of Play Conference, and Stony Point Center is so honored to host the first TOPCON since the pandemic (the real one, not the game silly!)
Join us as we weave stories of faith, scripture and the roll of the dice into a vision of how table top gaming can deepen your faith practices, deepen community and even bond a family in play.
There are thousands of ways to play of course, but during this gathering we will be focusing on tabletop gaming as our model of play.
-
Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos
Rev. Dr. Brian Santos’ ministry has been marked by curiosity, innovation and invention. When something sparks his “I wonder why that is?” brain, he digs deep, shares what he learns and inevitably creates something with it.
Santos’ accomplishments include birthing the “Farminary” teaching lab at Princeton Seminary, authoring 3 books and publishing several games including the classics “At Church” and “At Camp.”
Santos has nurtured a deep love of tabletop games and community development. Walking into his office is like walking into a gaming library. Hundreds of organized boxes line the shelves and he can give you the mechanics, similarities and strengths of each one.
He traveled to the Taize Community in France and ended up writing the seminal exploration of this young adult focused monastic pilgrimage space and the keys to community formation woven throughout the experience.
Santos is the pastor of Lake City Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife Shannon are the proud parents of Silas and Judah. They prioritize family and friends and the memories those relationships weave.
-
Wednesday
4:00 Registration and move into rooms
6:00 Dinner at Evergreen on Main Campus
7:00-9:15 Intro to TOPCON and gaming session
Thursday
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 TOPCON – Intersections between the book and the board
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Gaming Session
12:00 Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 Gaming Sessions
3:00-5:00 Break (Seriously! Take a walk! Your chair could use the break…just sayin’!)
5:00-6:00 Building a faithful family – one meeple at a time
6:00 Dinner
7:00-9:15 Evening Gaming Sessions
Friday
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 – 10:15 And Now For Something Completely Different – Games-Based Intergenerational Ministry
10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:45 Gaming Session
12:00 Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 Gaming Sessions
3:00-5:00 Break (Seriously! Take a walk! Your chair could use the break…just sayin’!)
5:00-6:00 Lab 1 – How to Create a Tabletop-based Community Building Experience
6:00 Dinner
7:00-9:15 Lab 2 – Create Your Own Tabletop-based Community Building Experience
Saturday
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Prayers and Takeaways
9:30 Break
10:00-11:45 Final Gaming Session
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Depart
-
Fees are all inclusive and include housing option, 6 meals, and all facility and leadership costs.
$200 Commuter
$449 Double Occupancy room w/ Shared Bath
$599 Single Occupancy room w/ Shared Bath