Think Tank

Goal: Funding & Influence | Core Value: Intellectualism  | Theme: Culture

Think Tank churches are located in strategic centers– hubs of power, law, or high-level collaboration.

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.

Setting: Resort towns, elite enclaves, or high-wealth pockets

Possible Strategy: Low volume, high influence. In these settings, the church acts as a curated place of education and dialog, or a Think Tank. The theology is intellectually rigorous but socially moderate, appealing to high-wealth professionals and retirees.

Success Metric: Capital & Philanthropy. While membership is small, the per-capita giving and social capital are high, often funding the expansion of Bridge or Lab models elsewhere.

Possible Growth Area: Even in wealthy areas, the community members working in the service industry or as support staff often have some college background and may be attracted to Wesleyan spirituality. (Some college education correlates with UMC membership.) Creating a space where a wealthy leader and an underpaid, essential worker sit in the same pews is a “radical” centrist-progressive value.