The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith

The Rev. Thee Smith The Rev. Theophus "Thee" Smith, Ph.D., is a Priest Associate. Thee joined St. Philip's staff as deacon in 2001 and was ordained a priest in 2002. He was educated at the Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, St. John's College ('Great Books' curriculum) in Annapolis, and the Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. At Emory University, he has taught both undergraduate and graduate students since 1987 and plans active retirement as emeritus faculty in 2018. His academic specialties include philosophy of religion, African American religious studies, liberation theology, and religion and violence studies. In 1994, he authored Conjuring Culture: Biblical Formations of Black America and co-edited Curing Violence, a collection of essays on 'sacred violence' and the work of René Girard. He formerly directed the Atlanta chapters of the Community of the Cross of Nails (Coventry Cathedral, England) and the National Coalition Building Institute (Washington, D.C.). As co-founder of the social justice nonprofit, Southern Truth and Reconciliation (STAR, Inc.), Thee also specializes in diversity training, conflict resolution and interfaith relations. His profile is available for engagements on the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta's list of speakers, consultants and facilitators here.