All Can be Theologians

I once met with a priest who asked me “Lynn, can you tell me why most people when they get to where you are leave the church, but a few stay on?” I didn’t have an answer at that time, but now I do - at least for me.

“All can be Christians, all can be devout, and I shall boldly add - all can be theologians” Erasmus of Rotterdam [I’m not sure people appreciate what a loaded quotation this is from the 1400’s!]

I had the good fortune [or the bad fortune, depending on whether you agree or not with Erasmus] to meet a priest who fully believed in this quotation. Although it took time, he did convince me that I, too, was a theologian and so my thoughts, questions and understandings should both be offered and respected as part of the conversation.

Laity, who’s views are sought after, listened to and considered as part of the answer, are an empowered laity. But my experience has highlighted just how dangerous this is. Once you have a laity who is empowered, they react very badly when treated in any other way.

The next priest asked me for my opinion on a matter, and when I told him my thoughts said, ‘That’s interesting. We’ll do it my way.’ My advice to that priest and other clergy would be, ‘Don’t ask empowered laity for their opinion if you don’t intend to listen to it when it is given.”

In another church we attended when asked for my thoughts during bible study, the response to them would be “Yes, but” following by a restating of the pastor’s thoughts. Once again a group of us were asked what type pf worship service we would like to see. Ideas were listened to and promises were made to implement some of these, promises which were never acted on.

Dealing with an empowered laity goes farther than lip service. Once a person really embraces that he or she is a theologian, they want to be treated with the respect and consideration that calls for. When this doesn’t happen, they can’t go back to the subservient position of ‘Yes, sir, no sir. How high do you want me to jump?” Many church officials see these people as threatening the status quo [which they definitely are!!!] rather than the life-blood of the congregation [which they also are!!!]

As T.S. Eliot said: “To … release a new force, let the genie out of the bottle. It is to start a new train of events that is beyond your control…” Empowering the laity, giving them confidence their ability as theologians, as well as the permission to express their views, is in fact exactly that, letting the genie out of the bottle!

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NUDGINGS: a journey into the unknown

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