A pastor, theologian and activist living and working in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood is a Catholic Priest (Old Catholic), the founding Dean and The Rev. Charles Moore Professor of Prophetic Theology at The New Theology School and the Convener of Clergy United Against the Death Penalty.
Dr. Hood is a graduate of Auburn University (BA), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv), Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (ThM), University of Alabama (MA), Creighton University (MS), Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University (DMin), the American Institute of Metaphysics (PhD) and The New Theology School (NThD). Dr. Hood has also completed international studies at Tel Aviv University (Israel) and Yonsei University (South Korea). His primary interest has always been in experimental theologies of liberation. In addition to his formal studies, Dr. Hood completed multiple units of Clinical Pastoral Education at a Level I trauma center in Fort Worth, Texas.
Dr. Hood was ordained to the ministry at the Rock Baptist Church in Rex, Georgia in 2006.
Dr. Hood was incardinated into the priesthood of the Catholic Church (Old Catholic) at Saint Miriam Parish and Friary in Flourtown, Pennsylvania in 2022.
Dr. Hood is the author of over 70 books, including his infamous The Courage to Be Queer (which was named the third best religion book of 2016 at the Independent Publishers Book Awards), and countless significant articles. In addition to writing books and articles, Dr. Hood’s work has appeared extensively in the media, including in the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, Fort Worth Star Telegram, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Los Angeles Times, WIRED magazine and on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR amongst a whole host of other outlets.
Dr. Hood has served in the governing leadership of multiple organizations, including the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and Fellowship of Reconciliation USA. In 2013, Dr. Hood was awarded PFLAG Fort Worth’s Equality Award for activism and service for the LGBTQ community. In 2015, Hood was named Hope for Peace and Justice’s Ambassador of Justice for his theological activism. In 2016, Hood was named the Next Generation Action Network’s Person of the Year for his work against police brutality. In 2017, Hood was given an award from the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty for his work toward abolishing the death penalty. Currently, Dr. Hood serves on the Board of Advisers of Death Penalty Action (which he deems as the most consequential protest organization dedicated specifically to abolishing the death penalty).
A participant in history, Dr. Hood organized and led the July 7, 2016 Dallas, Texas rally against police brutality that tragically ended in the shooting deaths of 5 police officers. Dr. Hood saved countless lives by using the cross he was carrying to force people away from the shooting. For multiple days, Dr. Hood did countless interviews and appearances while he and his family were under constant threat. To commemorate Dr. Hood’s role in the shooting and his wider work, the archives at the Dallas Public Library opened, “The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood Collection.”
With three arrests, various assaults endured and thousands of miles marched, Dr. Hood is not afraid to step into the shoes of Jesus and give his body for justice.
In addition to being the husband of Emily and father of Jeff III, Phillip, Quinley Mandela, Lucas & Madeleine, Dr. Hood also maintains multiple close friendships with persons on death row
Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood has served as the spiritual advisor for numerous men on death rows in several states across the nation, including Oklahoma death row inmate Scott Eizember. He served as a witness of the execution of Mr. Eizember on January 12, 2023, after fighting a legal battle to be present in the death chamber as his spiritual advisor. Click on the above link to view a video that describes the legal challenge that Rev. Dr. Hood was made to engage in to "win" the right to be present for Scott Eizember on his execution day. I met with Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood just hours after his witnessing experience on the day of Scott Eizember's execution, as he shared the trauma that he experienced from the "bizarre" experience of watching a man being put to death in front of his eyes.
Click the link below to learn more about the spiritual journey of Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood and his activism in the death penalty abolition movement in the following article:
Click the link below to read an editorial written by Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood following his experience of witnessing the Scott Eizember execution: