Two Types of Elders

Re Ministry? What Ministry?, January

I respectfully disagree with Bruce Fraser’s position and find it misguided. Within the Presbyterian Church in Canada we recognize individuals ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacraments (teaching elders), and those ordained to ministry as ruling elders; the two “callings” are different. Consider: your child scrapes his knee and cries; you bandage it, give him a big kiss and say, “now you will be fine.” Does that make you a doctor? Because one can read or memorize the communion service simply does not qualify one to administer this sacrament (until our General Assembly in its wisdom permits).
Of course, those who espouse Mr. Fraser’s position could join the membership of the Salvation Army or the Quaker community where there are no sacraments.