I am not sure that Term Eldership works. I am an elder at Calvin, Abbotsford, B.C. Our congregation has been allowed to experiment with term eldership. We have been doing this for several years. Our term is six years. Unfortunately, it is has been difficult to replace elders whose term is up. That leaves more and more work with fewer elders to do it. I believe the old system, life eldership, can work. I know that it requires a great deal of commitment on the part of certain people, however, under the old system, a person could demit from the office if they felt they could no longer do the work, or take a sabbatical year (or two) if they needed a break. I know that the reason we are considering term eldership is that it is difficult to get people to commit to a life-time position. If that is the case, then six years is too long. Other denominations have three-year terms. Theologically speaking, it creates a distinction between two different types of elders: the teaching elder (i.e. the minister) whose term is life, and the ruling elder whose term is six years. I know that people say once an elder always an elder, but that does not work out in practice. Once a ruling elder's term is up, his/her rightful authority is stripped from him/her. He/she cannot act as an elder in his/her own church. He/she cannot attend session meetings or exercise to the full his/her leadership ability. I would encourage further thought on this matter. Paul says to Timothy in I Timothy 3:1, “The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop (overseer), desires a noble task.” Term eldership, I believe, may make it a little less noble. Eldership in the Church of Jesus Christ is a very important calling. Let's treat it as such. (One alternative might be to let those who are willing to serve longer (indefinite) terms do so and allow those who are willing to do shorter terms do so.)

Where is the faith community today? It's in a crisis; that's where it is today. That is the essential problem, both in the church and in the community. If 94 per cent of ministers surveyed said that they rarely received anything personally from reading scripture, then does that not tell us volumes? We are on the wrong track, we have lost our way.

As we all know, we are in turbulent economic times and it is not clear what we, as a society, should do. Guidance is needed on what is the Christian course of action. However, I am not seeing that from the Presbyterian Church beyond helping with food banks and out-of-the-cold programs. This economic meltdown requires government help, not temporary help such as a food bank.

Congratulations on publishing Wendy Lampman's letter Remembering Zimbabwe. I would like to endorse everything she wrote and include the excellent health service for all that existed as I grew up in a medical family in South Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.

Re The Malthusian Dilemma and the Judgement of God, News, February

Re Long-term Planning, News, February

The Record is to be congratulated for tackling this controversial acutely relevant subject. After many decades of exposure to the mental health system, both as a client and as a mental health counsellor, I offer these comments.

I am usually a very passive person, but your article about depression and problems in the clergy upset me very much.

Your lead February story Breaking The Silence – The Mental Health Of Our Clergy by Sandra Moll and Kristine O'Brien certainly hit the nail. I call it the Saul Syndrome.