The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, a priest and spiritual advisor recognized for his ministry with death row inmates, will preach “The Execution of Hope” at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Sunday, October 19, at 10:00 a.m.
Rev. Hood will discuss the challenges faced by spiritual leaders who support inmates in an unforgiving justice system. He will share his experiences with redemption and provide hope for reforming measures to ensure the inherent worth and dignity of every person involved in this process. Rev. Hood preaches that ending additional lives is not a proper legacy for the victims involved either. This September, the State of Alabama executed Geoffrey Todd West despite the victim’s son, Will Berry, holding vigil in Montgomery and pleading with Gov. Ivey to spare his life.
Through his ministry, Rev. Hood has provided dignity and comfort to inmates during their final moments before execution, offering blessings with radical compassion and mercy. Having witnessed more than a dozen executions across the United States, he is a long-standing advocate for reforming the punitive justice system. Rev. Hood is also a prominent activist for racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights.
Currently, Rev. Hood serves as pastor and spiritual advisor to Anthony Boyd, who is facing execution by the State this month. Boyd was convicted of murder in Alabama in 1993. This Thursday his stay of execution was denied by Chief U.S. Judge Emily Marks and barring action from Gov. Ivey he will be executed Oct. 23 by the controversial method of breathing pure nitrogen gas through a mask. Many, including Rev. Hood, who have witnessed these executions decry them as cruel and unusual based on the choking and gasping resulting from depriving the body of oxygen.
Rev. Hood has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. His academic background includes degrees from Auburn University (BA), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv), Emory University (ThM), the University of Alabama (MA), Creighton University (MS), and Brite Divinity School at TCU (DMin). He was ordained at Rock Baptist Church in Georgia in 2006 and incardinated as a Catholic priest at Saint Miriam Parish in Pennsylvania in 2022.
To learn more about Dr. Hood and his work, please visit:
The Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/death-row-reverend-jeff-hood-1235305460
GQ: https://www.gq.com/story/reverend-jeff-hood-black-lives-matter-dallas