Ashley Hardingham left his career as a Eurobond dealer in a City of London merchant bank and retrained for Baptist ministry; for over thirty years he has led churches in three contrasting settings: a large council estate, a school hall, and an affluent suburban setting. Hardingham holds a master's degree in preaching and is an associate tutor of Northern Baptist College.
"""An honest, deeply reflective chronicling of the process taken by a courageous pastor and the church he serves. The book provides a 'rough guide' to all who embark on a journey of discerning the ways of God for a local church. Love of God, people, Scripture, allied to humility, teachableness, and openness featured throughout the process. What was discovered led to far more than a decision about an issue but rather a way of being a church community that learned a lot about itself and how to discern the mind of Christ and the heart of God together."" --Roy Searle, former president, Baptist Union of Great Britain ""This painful and brave account of a church and its members discerning inclusion is timely and a must read for churches facing this challenge."" --Carrie Grant, vocal coach and television presenter"