I was listening to some S. Lewis Johnson messages recently. He said the origin of the practice went something like this. "Well, brother Smith isn't doing the job as elder, but instead of making a scene, we'll just institute term limits."

Interestingly for a non Presbyterian, Dr. Johnson also said that there is warrant for making a distinction between ruling and teaching elders.

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Chris
Member at Grace Community Baptist Church, Mandeville, LA

Beware of a religion without holdfasts. But if I get a grip upon a doctrine they call me a bigot. Let them do so. Bigotry is a hateful thing, and yet that which is now abused as bigotry is a great virtue, and greatly needed in these frivolous times. I have been inclined lately to start a new denomination, and call it "the Church of the Bigoted." Spurgeon