Newly consecrated as Pastor Emerita of New Church United Church of Christ (UCC), Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson, served as Senior Pastor of the church from its founding in May of 2013 until July of 2025 when she retired.
Rev. Hudson is currently an Affiliated Faculty member of Brite Divinity School on the campus of Texas Christian University in Ft Worth, where she teaches, at the request of the Dean. She has used her education and spiritual gifts to lead a large membership church, a renewing church, a mega-church, an online church, and a new church start, as well as helping start two additional new UCC churches, allowing for a breadth of understanding of church life, leadership and worship.
Rev. Hudson holds a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Arts degrees from the University of North Texas in Denton, TX, a Master of Divinity, Cum
Laude, from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in
Dallas, TX, and an earned Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
In past years, Rev. Hudson has served on the Board of Trustees at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, as Chair of the Board of the South Central Conference UCC, and also as the Chair of the Board of Convergence, a faith-based organization leading and inspiring the Progressive Christian movement in the United States and beyond.
Rev. Hudson continues to be active in the South Central Conference and the North Texas Association of the UCC, and holds her church membership at New Church UCC. She is frequently invited as a supply preacher for various churches in the conference and association, as well as other denominations. She currently worships, leads a contemplative ministry, and is a Preaching Fellow at Saint Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Dallas.
In retirement, Rev. Hudson, please call her “Jo”, enjoys her home in
Richardson, TX, that she shares with her two dogs, Zackey & Hut. Jo is a Texas Aggie by upbringing and degree, yet she is delighted that her beautiful daughter, Sydney is currently attending the University of Texas in Austin, TX.
Jo enjoys, traveling, listening to audio books, going to the theater and
cinema, working out and taking Tai Chi classes, and naps. She also enjoys
visiting her family in Houston, and Salt Lake City, as well as sharing time
with her family of choice, in Dallas and around the state and country.
