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Jesus Don’t Live in Tennessee No More. 

By Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood

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Jesus don’t live in Tennessee no more.  He moved a few days ago when Governor Bill Lee announced this new execution protocol.  Jesus don’t reside in places of such arrogant and intentional evil.

Indeed, the announcement reminded me just how biblically and spiritually illiterate most Tennesseans are.  So many citizens and the politicians they elect claim to follow Jesus but don’t have a clue what Jesus taught.  You see there’s this story that should stand out in a moment like this.  Paraphrased from the eighth chapter of the Gospel of John:

Jesus got going early one morning.  People started coming to him because they were curious what he had to say.  Being the compassionate soul that he was, Jesus sat down and started to teach them.  Of course, the politicians got mad.  They wanted to trip Jesus up.  So, they decided to bring in this woman who’d been convicted of a capital offense.  “We caught her in the very act!” they loudly declared.  “Death penalty!  Death penalty!  Death penalty!” they all screamed.  “The law says that we should execute her.  We think it should happen right now.  What do you say?” they demanded.  Instead of responding, Jesus started to quietly point out that the politicians were regularly doing things that were destroying people’s lives.  “Brutality, war, pollution, corruption, greed, poverty, avarice, etc.”.  The list was very long.  Of course, politicians back then weren’t really all that different than politicians now.  Then, Jesus loudly proclaimed, “Let the one who is without sin begin the execution.”  When the politicians heard this, they tucked tail and ran.  Eventually, Jesus was left alone with the woman and said, “Where are the politicians that condemned you?”  “Nowhere,” she replied.  “Well, go and sin no more.”

There you have it, the only execution that Jesus was ever involved in beside his own…he stopped.  You can’t love your neighbor as yourself and execute them.  How can anyone claim to have knowledge of love in the midst of killing people?  You can’t minister to people that you kill.  Why are we putting so many other people through the pain and suffering of having to carry these sentences out?  There seems to a number of good reasons for followers of Jesus to push back against this new protocol.

In recent years, I’ve witnessed eight different executions.  Of course, they all haunt me.  I see the faces every night.  You would too.  If all Tennesseans actually had to witness these executions, they would stop.  I guess that’s why they’re private.  The vantage point of the general population is the reason these executions continue.  Can you imagine what would happen if the judges and jurors that hand these sentences down actually had to carry them out?  The vast majority of people are so far away from what this new protocol will mean.  However, Jesus got close.  He got right there with the woman.

As a spiritual advisor to death row inmates throughout the nation, I get close.  Determined to follow Jesus, I offer my physical and psychological health.  I know the cost of these executions.  I live it every day.

Presently, I work with two men in Tennessee, Gary Wayne Sutton and Michael Bane.  Both have significant innocence claims.  Having been third on the list when executions stopped, Sutton could face an execution date very soon.  A great many are begging Governor Lee to look at his case more thoroughly.  Is Tennessee ready to run the risk of executing an innocent man?  Of course, there are endless questions when it comes to killing folk and no firm answers.

Regularly when I talk to Sutton and Bane, they express shock that so many people who claim to be so close to Jesus have strayed so far from his teachings.  I am too.  Isn’t Jesus about putting down your stones?  So, why are Tennesseans starting to pick them up again?

Even though I was aiming for a bit of hyperbole earlier, I guess it really is true.  Jesus really don’t live in Tennessee no more.  Governor Bill Lee kicked him out so he could start executing people again.

About the Author


Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood

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 (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.

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