Rev. Dr. Linda McCoy

E-mail: mccoyl@stlukesumc.com
Phone: 317-846-3404 x344

Dr. McCoy began her professional career as a secondary school French teacher, and entered ministry as a second career. Her ministry actually began as a very active lay person, creating a new caring project for St. Luke's UMC, and that volunteer activity led her to enter seminary and pursue ordination. Linda holds bachelor and master’s degrees from Indiana University, a Master of Divinity (Magna Cum Laude) from Christian Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. She received the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism from the South Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church, and was named the Distinguished Alumni of Christian Theological Seminary, Linda was named one of the “Most Influential Women” in Indianapolis in 2008.

In 1982, Linda became part of the clergy team of St. Luke's, and continued in that role until 1994. Then God intervened, and led her toward a new vision of what church for the 21st Century might be, and she founded The Garden in September 1995. The Garden was a pioneer in multi-site ministry, and has proven to be meaningful for its more than 1200 who call The Garden their “spiritual home.” The Garden averages over 600 in attendance each Sunday. The initial site began at Beef & Boards Theatre and grew from one to two to three services each Sunday. In 2003, The Garden added a second site that meets at The Mansion at Oak Hill, a banquet hall 14 miles away from the original site.

Linda has authored three books: It’s News to Me; Messages of Hope for Those Who Haven’t Heard—a collection of Advent and Epiphany sermons, Planting a Garden telling the story and organizational details of starting a unique kind of ministry, and Abingdon’s Igniting Worship: Helping and Serving—a collection of ten services around the theme of helping in such a way as to make the world a better place. She has also written numerous articles, and contributed a chapter on churches starting churches to the recently published 7 Myths of the United Methodist Church.

Linda and her husband, Mike, live in Carmel, Indiana and enjoy spending time with their daughter, Erin, son-in-law, Tim and their granddaughter, Maddie.