Theology: Our Common Task

I have been reading Alister McGrath's history of Protestantism -- Christianity's Dangerous Idea (HarperOne, 2007). I'll speak more of the book itself at a later time -- when I'm finished. But as I was reading through this book that explores the "democratization of faith" that at least in principle Protestantism is, I came across this quotation from Karl Barth's God in Action.

McGrath writes:

Barth stressed the importance of theology in safeguarding the vision and identity of the church. Positive, yet critical, theology serves the church and keeps it faithful to its calling. And who is authorized to "do" theology? Barth had no hesitation in reaffirming the great Protestant theme of the democratization of the faith. (McGrath, p. 239).

From there he moves to the quote, which stems from a 1934 lecture in Paris:

In conclusion, theology is not a private subject for theologians only. Nor is it a private subject for professors. Fortunately, there have always been pastors who have understood more about theology than most professors. Nor is theology a private subject of study for pastors. Fortunately, there have been repeatedly congregation members, and often whole congregations, who have pursued theology energetically while their pastors were theological infants or barbarians. Theology is a matter for the church. (Karl Barth, God in Action, Round Table Press, 1963, pp. 56-57)

Barth goes on in the paragraph that follows to not the importance of both pastors and professors to this process. Still he leaves the ball in the church's court.

In the Church there are really no non-theologians. The concept "laymen" is one of the worst concepts in religious terminology, a concept that should be eliminated from the Christian vocabulary. (Barth, p. 57)

It would seem that if we are true to the Protestant heritage -- as clergy/professors we are called to share what we know. "Laity" on the other hand should cast off the shackles of this "calling" and engage in pursuit of that call to pursuit knowledge in faith, to do theology and seek understanding of God's call on our lives.