About The Gathering

The Gathering brings people together to experience and know God’s love through developing authentic and loving experiences of community. The Gathering is grounded in and grows from the Christian faith tradition. We are deeply formed through fellowship, and The Gathering is focused on building loving community spaces in which people can experience deep communion with God and one another. While some community expeiriences are focused on spirituality and faith like retreats and dsicernment groups, other expeireinces are focused on building community, like through sharing good food and meaningful conversations. The Gathering is grounded in the belief that loving fellowship with people and God can foster joy, healing and freedom. People can spread this love into their lives and communities, enacting justice and reconciliation. This is the work of the church, and in that way, The Gathering serves as an alternative expression of church.

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Dr. Courtnye Lloyd founded this budding community in 2024. As a community-builder and follower of Jesus Christ, she is dedicated to bringing people together in loving communion with God and one another around the Butler-Tarkington community of Indianapolis, IN. Her background is in education, developmental psychology, and ministry. ​She teaches, preaches, pastors, and cultivates communities for learning and development. She's been influenced by her experience growing up in African-American Presbyterian and Baptist churches, and then belonging to Vineyard and non-denominational church communities. Seeing the gifts of a range of diverse Christian communities has shaped her heart for the ecumenical Church. She's also been greatly influenced by experiencing God and communion with others through day-to-day encounters in "ordinary" spaces like her home, coffee shops, libraries, and gas stations.

Courtnye has worked with the Lilly Endowment's Clergy Renewal program based at Christian Theological Seminary and taught at Brandeis University. She has held formation and healing workshops for the Wabash Pastoral Leadership Development Program and the Christian Community Development Association. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology and Education from Boston College, a M.Ed. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University and a B.A. in Psychology from Duke University. She is currently working on her M.A. in Divinity from Shaw University Divinity School.