We do understand ourself as an open network of people
The European Bibliodrama Network was founded in 2004 as an open network. By «network» we mean a non-hierarchical form of organisation. The standards listed below are understood by the members (Bibliodrama leaders and Bibliodrama organisations) as a self-commitment; there are no controlling bodies. We want to further develop our Bibliodrama work in collegial counselling and professional exchange beyond the borders of our countries. The network is responsible for the frame of doing Bibliodrama in a European context.
What is Bibliodrama?
Bibliodrama is an open-ended interaction process between the individual, the group as a whole and a text. Biblical and sometimes other sacred texts are a source of inspiration and an existential and hermeneutic dialogue takes place between the world of the participants and the world of the text. By identifying with people and situations from the text through embodying a character or non-personal perspective of the story, the participants gain a deeper understanding of the text, their lives and beliefs. After the play there is room for sharing, reflection and spiritual processing.
There is a verbal and non-verbal exchange between the participants emerging from the cultural and religious backgrounds they bring to the process. Varied aesthetic forms of expression fulfil an important function in this creative process, which strengthens interconnectedness between the participants and counteracts polarization.
Bibliodrama workshops require the leadership of a trained facilitator. In a typical Bibliodrama session the leader facilitates the warm-up, play and sharing. So members of the EBN do not offer Bibliodrama workshops without following or having completed a qualified Bibliodrama training program or equivalent
The use of Bibliodrama in community life, in religious contexts and especially adult education and in many other settings helps people to understand the fullness of life afresh and to put it into words.
There is a verbal and non-verbal exchange between the participants emerging from the cultural and religious backgrounds they bring to the process. Varied aesthetic forms of expression fulfil an important function in this creative process, which strengthens interconnectedness between the participants and counteracts polarization.
Bibliodrama workshops require the leadership of a trained facilitator. In a typical Bibliodrama session the leader facilitates the warm-up, play and sharing. So members of the EBN do not offer Bibliodrama workshops without following or having completed a qualified Bibliodrama training program or equivalent
The use of Bibliodrama in community life, in religious contexts and especially adult education and in many other settings helps people to understand the fullness of life afresh and to put it into words.
Ethical principles and guidelines for leading Bibliodrama
- Respect:
We respect all people regardless of nationality, ethnicitiy, religion, gender, appearance and conviction. We show the same respect to all participants and do not try to convince anyone of our own opinions. We do not pass judgement on the contributions of other group members. We make sure that participants treat each other with the same respect. - Equal rights:
We ensure that all participants are equally involved in the Bibliodrama process, especially in the interpretation of the text. - Leadership:
We organise the group process in such a way that all participants have a wide range of decision-making options. The leader serves the group with his/her theological, pedagogical, psychological and human competences. In leading Bibliodrama processes, we are more facilitators than leaders. As facilitators we create an open and safe spacefor the group. - Discretion/confidentiality:
We protect the personal space of the participants within the safe spaces. We make sure that any conflicts that arise are discussed within the group, but not outside of it. - Globe:
People and human beings live in a concrete world reality, which they always bring into the group work. We organise Bibliodrama processes in such a way that they are always open to the environment, major world events and political reality. - Process-orientation:
We design Bibliodrama as a text-, group- and individual-orientated process. - Holistic approach:
We cultivate a didactic approach that takes into account the mind-soul-body unity of the human being. In the role-playing games, intuition, emotion, interaction, cognition and imagination play an equal role. - Spirituality:
We seek to cultivate an attitude of spiritual accompaniment («I walk with you») rather than spiritual guidance («I show you the - right - way»). - Reflection:
We regularly undergo further training in supervision, peer supervision and appropriate continuous professional development.
EBN charter
The first EBN Charter from 2004 was revised between 2023 and 2025. Here you can find the new charter as it was presented at the pre-meeting in Sweden in August 2025. Minor adjustments will still be made before it is finally adopted in Holland in August 2026. This reflects the fact that the Charter is not set in stone, but is intended to be updated on an ongoing basis.
| 25-07-19_ebn_charter_draft_n3_website.pdf |
History of the European Bibliodrama Network and his charter
From August 2001 up to July 2004 people (teachers and students) from seven European countries (Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland) interesting in Bibliodrama met periodically in a project sponsored by the European Union (Sokrates- Grundtvig II) „Bibliodrama Longtime educational programs in Europe“.
The „European Network of Bibliodrama“ was founded by the members of the project for going on exchanging their experiences in Bibliodrama.
The European Network of Bibliodrama is an offer for all who are interested in working together, exchanging experiences, getting informations and the possibility of collegial counseling by experts.
The „European Network of Bibliodrama“ is organising himself by the engagement of its members. Annual meetings shall support the exchange of experiences, the collegial counseling and the qualifying in bibliodrama.
Last meeting in Gelnhausen, 21.-22. may 2004: Here the most important decision has been taken concerning the structure of the network.
>>>more about this history
The „European Network of Bibliodrama“ was founded by the members of the project for going on exchanging their experiences in Bibliodrama.
The European Network of Bibliodrama is an offer for all who are interested in working together, exchanging experiences, getting informations and the possibility of collegial counseling by experts.
The „European Network of Bibliodrama“ is organising himself by the engagement of its members. Annual meetings shall support the exchange of experiences, the collegial counseling and the qualifying in bibliodrama.
Last meeting in Gelnhausen, 21.-22. may 2004: Here the most important decision has been taken concerning the structure of the network.
>>>more about this history
| Bibliodrama Charta 2004 (in german language) |
| ebn_charter_in_english.pdf |
| minutes of the 7th consultation - Gelnhausen 2004 |