When a decision is reached it should be that of the entire session and not simply of the pastor or of a few leading elders. The pastor, with the ruling elders, must keep in close touch with the members in order to know their spiritual needs. In his relationship to presbytery the minister has continuous membership while the ruling elder membership changes from meeting to meeting. This gives an advantage to the minister and with it greater responsibility. Also, since ministers give full time to the work of the church they are called upon for a wider service in presbytery.
Every minister is called upon for a considerable amount of work on various committees of presbytery.
The faithful rendition of this service makes possible the effective functioning of presbytery. Naturally, ruling elders are called upon to share in important committee work. His original treatment of the subject of Presbyterian government has been revised and brought up to date since his death in 1972.