Can a brother delegate authority to a sister to start a song in a worship service? Can a sister start a song in a worship assembly? Isaac M. Manyike
The apostle Paul addressed song leading in 1 Corinthians 14:26 along with other public roles in the assembly of the Lord’s church. In verse 27, those taking a public role are to take their turns, one at a time, so that all things may be done decently and orderly (1 Corinthians 14:40). Likewise, verses 30 and 31 emphasize that participants in the pubic aspect of the worship are to go “one by one.”
However, 1 Corinthians 14:34 rules out women from taking public roles in the worship of the church: “Let your women keep silent in the churches [assemblies], for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says” (NKJV). Therefore, a preacher has no authority to countermand God and delegate authority to a Christian sister to take the public role of song leader in the worship assembly.
Yet, we are aware that often more women are present in many small congregations, and furthermore, sometimes the few men present are not prepared or able to lead the singing. Still, this does not permit humans to set aside divine instruction. In the first place, men should take upon themselves the responsibility of learning enough about leading singing that they can start the songs; often, the congregation and particularly the women present will begin singing and make up for any deficiency in song leading by the designated song leader. At least, a brother in Christ can stand before the little assembly, announce the song, and then when everyone is ready, say to the congregation something like, “Let us sing.” A responsive church will commence singing, in which assembly are women who may be more able than the song leader.
