... ordination is not the conferring of a personal status or privilege, but the setting apart of men and women to perform certain functions within the Church to the glory of God. Various kinds of ordination are practised by the Church, differing in meaning in accordance with the different functions in view. Here we are particularly concerned with:
the ordination of elders by the Kirk Session [and] the ordination of ministers by the Presbytery;
with the laying on of hands by those already ordained to the ministry. Elders are set apart to exercise spiritual oversight and discipline; ministers, in addition to these functions, to preach the Word and to celebrate the Sacraments. This difference in function constitutes a difference in meaning which is marked by a difference in the external rite.

"Induction or Appointment:
... ordination does not mean an unrestricted right and power to teach the Word and to celebrate the Sacraments for it is the practice of the Church not to ordain until the Church is at the same time prepared to induct the ordinand into a settled charge or to appoint him or her to some more or less clearly defined sphere of work. Induction or appointment is a distinct and separate act which accompanies ordination and at the same time limits the sphere within which the powers conferred by ordination may be exercised.

"While the ordination of minister assistant locum tenens and home missionary is identical their status is different in virtue of the different restrictions placed upon each in the exercise of his or her functions."

"Seat on Church Courts:
The status with respect to the Church Courts of ministers ... does not depend merely upon ordination but upon the nature of the appointments held. No minister has a right to a seat in the Church Courts merely in virtue of his or her ordination. So far as ministers are concerned a seat in Presbytery is normally reserved for those who have an episcopal or moderatorial status."