Joe Small on freeing the Presbyterian Church from its ‘democratic captivity’

“At the core of their vocation, teaching elders are called to teach the faith and ruling elders are called to rule out, to measure out, fidelity to the gospel in the life of the church. When teaching and ruling elders come together in councils they do not leave behind their essential calling; they are still ordered ministers with responsibility for teaching the faith and for discerning faithfulness. This suggests a general assembly that is primarily an ecclesial space for proclamation and prayer, teaching and learning, discernment and mutual accountability, rather than a vehicle for voting and legislating.”

Read more here, from the First Things blog, a year ago.