Note: This refers to the forum available in CM 5.8

Answer is yes

Go to Admin > Management Tools > Security Access (permissions)

Security Access (Permissions) page

Select the user groups

Select the Functions Tab (selected by default)

Select the Functions from the dropdown list and select ‘forums’

Set Full access to the user group for ‘Forum administration’

Set Read/Write access to reply to posts and messages etc

Set No access to just view the forums (Anonymous access to forums)