Can eldership censor preaching?
Question:
Hello,
I understand elders make decisions to run the day-to-day operations of the congregation. If they cannot show a scriptural reason for not allowing a male member to preach, can they prohibit him from preaching? While it can always be said, "Not enough knowledge," how does that not become a way of "censoring" certain lessons that meet the biblical mold to preach but not the elder's mold? What can or should be done about this censorship?
Answer:
Elders oversee a congregation's spiritual growth and faithfulness, dealing with both the individual members and the congregation as a whole. They are not directly involved in the day-to-day operations of a congregation, which are usually the duties of deacons. Elders often decide who will address the congregation. They are charged with keeping false teachings from being presented, so that would be a form of censorship.
If the elders think you need more maturity before presenting lessons to the congregation, then that is their choice. There is far more to preaching than presenting lessons from the pulpit. Get out and teach people. Hold Bible studies. Offer to fill in for other congregations in the region. Study the Bible to grow your knowledge.
