In Co-Mission, we long to see the good news of Jesus Christ reach every part of London. We’re not alone in this work, but we are committed to being an active and faithful church-planting network – one that grows God’s kingdom collaboratively and sacrificially. As we plant churches across this great city, we also recognise the importance of listening, learning, and strategising together. Our think tanks are a key way we do that.

These strategic groups bring together experienced pastors, leaders, and gospel-hearted thinkers from across our network. None of these groups will exist forever, although some will be longer lived than others – and as we, and London, evolve we will need additional ones in the future to tackle new areas. They work prayerfully and practically to help us reflect on complex issues, learn from our shared experience, and shape a stronger future for church planting in London.

Here’s how each of our current think tanks is serving the mission now.

1. Diversity Think Tank

Aim: To identify the blocks to increased diversity within our network and leadership, and to help create a pathway towards greater diversity in the next 5 to 10 years.
Chair: Andy Mason | Coordinator: Sarah Wilmot
Serving: Catrin Lee, Sarah Ebenezar, Christy Cheng, Rob Newham, Ezra Campbell, Mark Vernon

As we seek to reflect the glorious diversity of London in our churches and leadership, this group is helping us ask the right questions and build a roadmap for change.

2. Partners Programme Think Tank

Aim: To develop and promote a vision for sacrificial commitment in reaching London – through prayer, promotion, and financial partnership.
Chair & Coordinator: Matthew Dalton
Serving: Andy Mason, Jonty Allcock, Paul Dawson, Rob Newham

This group is helping create a plan to grow support for church planting across the network, aiming to increase regular giving from within our churches, while also sustaining long-term, major partnerships. The REVIVE appeal is the first step in the process of broadening our support base and involving more in the vision to reach London for Christ.

3. Theology Group

Aim: To develop clear ethos statements for Co-Mission on issues such as gender/sexuality, complementarianism, and ministry philosophy (subject to the Senior Pastors Council’s approval).
Chair & Coordinator: Andy Mason
Serving: Oscar Jimenez, Linda Allcock, Phil Allcock, Simon Pedley, Cathy Dalton

This group exists to help our network stay biblically faithful and theologically clear as we engage with challenging cultural issues and live out our convictions in unity.

4. Church Planting Think Tank

Aim: To generate new ideas and approaches for church planting within our network.
Chair & Coordinator: Andy Harker
Serving: Richard Leadbeater, Sam Gibb, Jonty Allcock, Scott Furey, Tom Dowding, Rupert Standring, Barry Schutter

This team is focusing on lessons learned from past plants, encouraging church-planting churches, and developing long-term planting strategies.

5. Training Think Tank

Aim: To assess and develop training across Co-Mission – addressing both the quality and the financial sustainability of training pathways.
Chair: Andy Mason | Coordinator: Matthew Dalton
Serving: Linda Allcock, Paul Dawson, Andy Harker, Pete Snow, Sam Williamson

This group is working on a training framework to better equip ministry trainees, pastors-in-training, and future leaders for gospel work in London and beyond.

Why Think Tanks Matter

These think tanks are not bureaucratic exercises – they are practical expressions of our collaborative spirit. They ensure that no church has to figure things out alone. They help us stay wise, faithful, and aligned as we serve Christ in a fast-changing city. And they show that Co-Mission doesn’t just want to plant churches – we want to plant healthy, strategic, sustainable churches that last.

Each think tank represents sacrificial service. Leaders already stretched in local ministry give their time and insight to strengthen the whole network. We are grateful for them, and we pray their work will bear fruit in lives changed by the gospel.

Please Pray with Us

Pray that these think tanks would be marked by godliness, wisdom, unity, and clarity. Pray that the ideas, frameworks, and strategies they develop would help us be more effective in planting churches across London. Above all, pray that through our shared efforts, Christ would be made known and God glorified in this great city.