Robin,

Quote
1. In the Scriptures I find elders appointed by the Apostles and evangelists rather than chosen by "popular vote" from a pool of candidates,

I made the same remark on Saturday at our elders' meeting.

Quote
2. I find no Scriptural justification for giving greater ecclesiastical authority to "teaching elders" (who alone are eligible for appointment to many committees and who alone are authorized to administer the sacraments, etc) than to so-called "ruling elders." Certainly there is Scripture to demonstrate the principle of "first among equals", such as Peter among the Eleven, but none giving one elder authority over the others.

In our churches teaching elders (pastors) do not have greater ecclesiastical authority than ruling elders. At least on paper. And here I will agree with you that better training of "normal" (ruling) elders will certainly also help to let it also be the case in practice. If I am not mistaken, at synod level meetings in our churhes there are equal numbers of so-called ruling elders and teaching elders (pastors).

Johan