Can a congregation ask its preacher to step down?
Question:
Dear Sir,
I greet you in the name of Christ, and thanks for all that you do for the church. I would like to ask a great question that has been bothering me.
- Can a congregation tell a preacher to step down from his role because of old age? This would be the congregation's decision and not the preacher's.
- Can the church decide that they do not want a brother who serves as a preacher and an elder at the same time?
Thanks, sir.
Answer:
A congregation decides which preachers it wants to support, including the local preacher. A congregation cannot ask a preacher to leave the congregation without cause, as would be true for any other member (III John 10). However, a congregation can decide to invite another preacher to work with them. They can also decide not to support the current preacher. The current preacher may decide to retire or move to another congregation to work with them. If he stays, perhaps the pulpit can be shared between the two preachers.
Handling such situations is difficult, as the current preacher will not appreciate the rejection. It should be done gently.
Deciding that a preacher cannot be an elder violates I Timothy 5:17. A congregation cannot add a rule that conflicts with what the Lord allows. See:
