Who preaches?

Next topic in Ayuda Pastoral (Help for Pastors)

Should a congregation have one main preacher?   If there is a team ministry , what biblical principles indicate who should occupy the pulpit?    

To answer this a brief overview of church leadership in the New Testament would be helpful. 

Flock with its pastor.   Over 24 times in the New Testament we read of pastor or pastoring.    And it is always with the idea of one flock cared for by a pastor:  "there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16 cf 1 Pet 2:25).  So it is to be expected that the church will have one pastor or minister looking after the needs of the congregation.

Plurality of elders.     Paul left Titus in Crete in order that he might "appoint elders in every town" (Titus 1:5).  So in the New Testament there was  also the practice of having a team  of elders in each congregation.   As the case of Crete indicates,   this was important for the well-being of the church.

Shepherding work of elders.   When Paul gave his farewell address to the elders of the Ephesian church he instructed them  "watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers"  (Acts 20:28 cf  20:17).     This indicates that pastoring work is not only the responsibility of the pastor but is also shared with the eldership.

Pastor's responsibility to preach.  Paul commends the work of the eldership and refers to those especially "whose work is preaching and teaching"  (1 Tim 5:17).      This implies that amongst the eldership there are those whose service involves preaching and teaching.    This is one means of pastoral care.   Others within the leadership team may have special areas of responsibility, such as with the youth or in outreach evangelism.  

So where there is a team ministry one elder will serve as the main pastor and the responsibility for preaching will usually be his.      As such he is simply part of the body of Christ which is God's means of  expressing his love to us (1 Cor 12:  12-31 cf 13:1-13).