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We Are Theologians: Strengthening the People of God
A “thoughtful, clear, and stimulating” look at how lay people can fully participate in the life of the church (John Coburn).
With its focus primarily on clergy, Christian churches have often been behind the times in pursuing the fullness of the biblical vision of all the People of God. In fact, all of us are natural theologians, people with theological commitment, preferences, and liberating insight about God, willing and able to think through questions of belief and relate the insights to our public and personal lives.
In this clear and engaging celebration of the power and influence of the laity, Fredrica Harris Thompsett gives us the tools to think theologically by grounding us in the history, spirituality, and biblical foundations of Anglican belief, particularly that of the Episcopal Church. Her readings of the Bible reveal to us our distinct calling. She considers the insights of the Reformation to the importance of the laity and the contribution of lay people, particularly women, to the expansive mission of the nineteenth century in education and social work. And she explores the different aspects of Anglican identity, and lay movements of liberation in the global South—all toward encouraging each and every one of us to claim our own theological voice.
In We Are Theologians, Thompsett “uses a wide-angle lens to give us a revitalized understanding of the church. She summons us all to the adventure of change” (Marianne H. Micks).
With its focus primarily on clergy, Christian churches have often been behind the times in pursuing the fullness of the biblical vision of all the People of God. In fact, all of us are natural theologians, people with theological commitment, preferences, and liberating insight about God, willing and able to think through questions of belief and relate the insights to our public and personal lives.
In this clear and engaging celebration of the power and influence of the laity, Fredrica Harris Thompsett gives us the tools to think theologically by grounding us in the history, spirituality, and biblical foundations of Anglican belief, particularly that of the Episcopal Church. Her readings of the Bible reveal to us our distinct calling. She considers the insights of the Reformation to the importance of the laity and the contribution of lay people, particularly women, to the expansive mission of the nineteenth century in education and social work. And she explores the different aspects of Anglican identity, and lay movements of liberation in the global South—all toward encouraging each and every one of us to claim our own theological voice.
In We Are Theologians, Thompsett “uses a wide-angle lens to give us a revitalized understanding of the church. She summons us all to the adventure of change” (Marianne H. Micks).
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 30, 2024
Classic and easy-to-read text about Anglican theology and how lay people can/should engage in living out one's faith in the world. I re-read the book to refresh my memory as I'm working on a project about ministry of the baptized. Helpful quotes of noted Anglican theologians and always love Fredrica's down-to-earth "tell it like it is" voice.
April 2, 2016
A bit of a slow start, but by the end I considered it a very powerful book, with thoughts important to consider for spiritual/theological/ethical life today. It's based on aspects of Christianity that are not enough considered or enacted, for example, the impossibility of living the Christian life exclusively based on an individual, heaven-focused, spirituality. She points out that early Anglicans were insistent as any modernists on a theology that arose and developed organically in community based on Biblical interpretation, reason, and personal experience. As she says, "those who search for theological wisdom must be open to both continuity and change." Includes a nice overview of Liberation Theology. A book assigned for this year's Education for Ministry classes.
October 19, 2025
As I am new to the Episcopal Church, my favorite chapter is the third, entitled All Can Be Theologians, a discussion of Thompsett’s four principles of Episcopal identity.
The first principle is the same as the chapter title- as a product of the Protestant Reformation, laity is encouraged to engage in biblical study and develop personal theology. Richard Hooker is quoted as saying the Church has the authority to change its mind. The Doctrine Commission of the Church of England in 1981 says that “doctrine should be authoritatively defined as little and seldom as possible.” As a former Catholic that has trouble with patriarchal authority, this is music to my ears.
Second, Digesting Biblical Knowledge. In support of the first precept it is imperative that we are empowered to discern scripture for ourselves. Cranmer’s collect for second Sunday of the church year includes that Scripture is written for our learning and calls for the grace to “hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them.” Engaging the text and asking questions is not only accepted but encouraged. As a person who always felt that I was approaching Bible stories from a perspective considered “wrong” I have found a place where I feel comfortable expressing doubt and different perspectives.
Third, Rejoicing in Creation. The optimistic belief that the world is good and that we are called to continue God’s creative acts through our work and our love. I continually find it easiest to connect with a Divine Presence in nature so I appreciate a natural theology that calls for studying God’s creation to find Her enduring wisdom.
Finally, Changing Lives. An optimism for humanity reflected in the Incarnation as a binding of humanity with God that transforms us. Conversion is a “turning of the heart,” a reasoned commitment based in part on our own human experiences.
If there is a way forward for religion in the US today, it is through a mindset of inclusion, not exclusion. A mindset of love and acceptance as opposed to hate and judgement. The Episcopal Church is where I have found an embodiment of that path forward.
The first principle is the same as the chapter title- as a product of the Protestant Reformation, laity is encouraged to engage in biblical study and develop personal theology. Richard Hooker is quoted as saying the Church has the authority to change its mind. The Doctrine Commission of the Church of England in 1981 says that “doctrine should be authoritatively defined as little and seldom as possible.” As a former Catholic that has trouble with patriarchal authority, this is music to my ears.
Second, Digesting Biblical Knowledge. In support of the first precept it is imperative that we are empowered to discern scripture for ourselves. Cranmer’s collect for second Sunday of the church year includes that Scripture is written for our learning and calls for the grace to “hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them.” Engaging the text and asking questions is not only accepted but encouraged. As a person who always felt that I was approaching Bible stories from a perspective considered “wrong” I have found a place where I feel comfortable expressing doubt and different perspectives.
Third, Rejoicing in Creation. The optimistic belief that the world is good and that we are called to continue God’s creative acts through our work and our love. I continually find it easiest to connect with a Divine Presence in nature so I appreciate a natural theology that calls for studying God’s creation to find Her enduring wisdom.
Finally, Changing Lives. An optimism for humanity reflected in the Incarnation as a binding of humanity with God that transforms us. Conversion is a “turning of the heart,” a reasoned commitment based in part on our own human experiences.
If there is a way forward for religion in the US today, it is through a mindset of inclusion, not exclusion. A mindset of love and acceptance as opposed to hate and judgement. The Episcopal Church is where I have found an embodiment of that path forward.
July 20, 2019
I read this book for a theology class in seminary. It is solid and may be especially helpful to those seeking to think about their own theology even if they aren't attending seminary or seeking ordination.
January 5, 2017
Review to follow
May 7, 2016
Another wonderful book about the power of the laity. The author is a professor of theology at seminary, yet encourages all to be empowered. On a faith journey we can often make the church and its rituals our God. She reminds us that God is God and the church a way to be closer to God.
"The Outline of the Faith reminds us that “ministry” (whether ordained or lay) is not our primary identity as people of God; Christianity is."
"When the gifts of any group in the Body of Christ are not esteemed, when we act as if a seminary education is required for learning about the Bible (as though it represented some static body of theory open only to scholars), when laity are reduced to spectators in worship with only token appearances, when rules and other assumptions keep people from the Bible, I wonder who we are trying to protect. Surely not the Bible."
"A contemporary Episcopal Church poster depicting the head of Jesus bears the legend, 'This man died to take away our sins, not our minds.'"
"The Outline of the Faith reminds us that “ministry” (whether ordained or lay) is not our primary identity as people of God; Christianity is."
"When the gifts of any group in the Body of Christ are not esteemed, when we act as if a seminary education is required for learning about the Bible (as though it represented some static body of theory open only to scholars), when laity are reduced to spectators in worship with only token appearances, when rules and other assumptions keep people from the Bible, I wonder who we are trying to protect. Surely not the Bible."
"A contemporary Episcopal Church poster depicting the head of Jesus bears the legend, 'This man died to take away our sins, not our minds.'"
April 3, 2016
This is a text for this year of Education for Ministry. I read this one after reading Theology for the Troubled Believer by Diogenes Allen, and Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman. We Are Theologians is about the 'priesthood of all believers' and focuses on the history and mission of lay people in the church. It was inspiring and educational; I particularly enjoyed the section on 19th century America and the powerful role of laywomen in the church, as well as the section on liberation theology.
February 27, 2016
Read this as part of my Education for Ministry class, a program of the U.S. Episcopal Church. Really interesting historical perspective of our beliefs, going all the way back to Richard Hooker, Thomas Cranmer, and the Reformation, which emphasized the importance of the people rather than hierarchy as determiners of Church. She illustrates this point through discussing liberation theology as theology of the people, presented as an example of the need for laity to be actively engaged in creating God's Kingdom and shaping the Church as we move forward.
May 3, 2016
I read this for my Education for Ministry class. It was an interesting and readable book that focuses on theology based on community, Biblical interpretation, reason, personal experience. The author focuses on the influence of everyday people in building faith and the church, rather than focusing on clergy. She attempts to give laity the tools to become theologians and discusses the power of liberation theology to bring social transformation.
May 22, 2016
Another great read, confirming once again that I am very happy to have become a member of the Anglican Communion:
"Both biblical literalism and the practice of citing one text to prove a point without theological comprehension of the whole story of the people of God, are not, theologically speaking, the Anglican way."
Amen!
"Both biblical literalism and the practice of citing one text to prove a point without theological comprehension of the whole story of the people of God, are not, theologically speaking, the Anglican way."
Amen!
April 2, 2016
This book begins with the premise that all the laity are theologians and supports this premise through Scripture and Anglican tradition. The last half of the book addresses how the church can strengthen the ministry of the laity in the future.
April 9, 2016
This is a wonderful theological read. It is especially written to challenge Anglicans/Episcopalians to understand their ministry to each other & the world.
Have your Bible, Book of Common Prayer and highlighter at the ready to ponder the thoughts that the Author elicits from your Heart.
Have your Bible, Book of Common Prayer and highlighter at the ready to ponder the thoughts that the Author elicits from your Heart.
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April 8, 2016I liked this author a lot. I liked that she thinks theology is for everyone, not just clergy. I think she is a little hard on other denominations.
March 31, 2016
Not recommended. Leaves much to be desired In terms of historical completeness and does not offer much complexity of understanding. Pass.
April 24, 2016
While I agree with everything she says, and I'm Catholic, not Anglican/Episcopalean, the book wanders a bit, and I found myself backing up to review a few times when I realized I was a little lost.
April 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this book, particularly the second half of it. The compare and contrast of Episcopal theology with other Protestant denominations and the Catholic theology was very helpful
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews