Culture

Culture: The Think Tank and the Civic Center both shape culture. The Think Tank does this from the top-down (policy and resources), while the Civic Center does it from the bottom-up (community presence and localism).

Models

Think Tank

sits in areas of higher wealth and/or influence

Wesleyan Mission: To unite ‘knowledge and vital piety,’ engaging the minds of our generation to influence the structures of society, so that the resources of the Kingdom are directed toward the flourishing of the common good and the pursuit of holy wisdom.

Civic Center

sits in historic, walkable small towns

Wesleyan Mission: To be the salt, leaven, and light within our local community: rooting ourselves in the historic heart of our city to cultivate a culture of mutual accountability and neighborly love that reflects the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

	Think Tank	Civic Center
Wesleyan Lens	Knowledge & Vital Piety	Social Holiness (Public)
Core Value	Intellectualism	Localism
Primary Goal	Funding & Influence (Strategy)	Culture Shaping (Identity)
Member Logic	“I go to change the system.”	“I go to invest in my community.”
Leadership	Intellectuals / Advocates	Conveners / Diplomats
Space Feel	Elite / Collaborative	Historic / Public
Ideal Space Type	High-end Shared Space, Well Maintained	Historic Downtown Churches
Success Metric	Policy / Resource Shift	Social Cohesion
Success Verbalized	“We are changing how things are done.” (Impact)	“We are bringing this town together.” (Cohesion)