Dr Ronnie Aitchison is a Deacon in the Methodist Church of Great Britain, now retired. With an interest in history and theology, he has written on both including 'The Ministry of a Deacon' and 'The Overseas Mission of the Wesley Deaconess Order' . E. Dorothy Graham is a church historian with a particular interest in Methodist mission and women's ministry. She has previously published "Saved to Serve", a history of the Wesley Deaconess Order from 1890-1978 and 'Chosen by God: A list of the Female Travelling Preachers of Early Primitive Methodism' . She was General Secretary of the WHS for 26 years.