Earlier tonight, I was working in the backyard. From the fence, I heard my neighbor calling for me. On the short walk over, I wondered if our kids had done something. With five children, everything is in the realm of possibility. Before I could get to him, my neighbor declared, “my wife died three days ago.” Immediately, I was heartbroken. She was an incredibly loving woman. For multiple years, our family experienced her generosity. I couldn’t believe she was... Read more
*Originally Published May 2014 A United States soldier processed the flag of the United States of America in to our sanctuary as we stood at attention singing “God Bless America.” The veterans in our midst were honored as we sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” The “Battle Hymn of the Republic” proceeded the pastor’s fiery sermon on the coming destruction of our beloved nation if we “…did not turn from our wicked ways.” Somehow gays, abortion and popular... Read more
The images of God were colorful and inviting. The problem was they looked more like a fairy tale than a description of the creator of the universe. I begged God to give me faith. God didn’t. Every night, I prayed for something. I found silence. There was nothing there. Finally, I realized I was praying to a God that I didn’t believe in. I walked away. Though everyone talked about getting saved, the only thing I wanted to get... Read more
Earlier today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that prevents religious sermons from being subpoenaed and also prohibits religious leaders from being forced to testify about their religious sermons. The impetus for the law originates from conservative churches that ferociously opposed equality/anti-discrimination ordinances/actions and were pushed to hand over and testify about their religious sermons. While I couldn’t disagree more with the hate speech that these pastors were spewing in their pulpits, I believe that such teachings... Read more
*Originally Published July 17, 2015 “How dare you insinuate Jesus had a vagina!” The woman was livid. In my talk, I stumbled on the most disturbing idea she’d ever been presented with. With church doctrine and dogma over the centuries in mind, the thought of Jesus having a vagina didn’t seem too out there for me. Since the earliest days of the church, haven’t Christians believed that Jesus was fully human and fully divine in every sense of... Read more
The party was going to by hype. Excitement filled his veins. Everybody was going. Then, the time came. The car rolled out with a shout. Everyone knew what this night was about. Laughs filled the car. The house came into view. In the midst of it all, God arrived too. Before things truly hit, the blue lights lit. Joy turned to horror. White men with guns, now was the time to run. The empire was only doing what it... Read more
Good afternoon, I’m Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood. I serve as a spiritual advisor on Texas’ Death Row. I come here this afternoon with a warning…there are killers in our midst. Over in Arkansas last night… Kenneth Williams was murdered. Part of us died. Kenneth Williams was murdered. Part of has died. Kenneth Williams was murdered. Part of us is dead. We can’t keep on executing people and expect to... Read more
Auburn University is the type of place that most people wouldn’t believe exists until they experience it. For four years, I was consistently surprised at the backward things I heard over and over again. Though much time has past since graduation, I still think about my alma mater from time to time. When I heard that Richard Spencer was going to speak at Auburn, I wasn’t surprised. He seems to always speak at spaces where he thinks he might... Read more
*Testimony on the Abolition of the Death Penalty before the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee of the Texas House of Representatives / April 17, 2017 I have been involved in innumerable organizations, actions and efforts to abolish the death penalty here in Texas. I serve as a spiritual advisor for two men on death row. One of which…Paul Storey…was scheduled to be executed a few weeks ago and was saved by a stay of execution. As we sit here the day... Read more
*Easter Message Delivered in Denton, Texas on April 6, 2015 Let’s begin with the excluded God. What does it mean for God to be left out? My mind immediately conjures up a situation at the church I attend, the Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ. Our church was founded to be the ultimate space of inclusion for LGBT people and those that love them. Presently, the church’s idea of liberation is based around your ability to fit... Read more
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