2024 Men's Retreat Speaker Bio

Jacob Smith was born on the Navajo Reservation and was raised in Yuma, Arizona. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a BA in History, with an emphasis in Near Eastern Studies. He received his M. Div from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in May 2006. Jacob was ordained to the diaconate on June 3, 2006, in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and ordained a presbyter at Calvary Church on December 3, 2006, by the Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor. Jacob has been the rector of Calvary-St. George's Episcopal Church, in New York City since 2017, where he has made preaching and teaching the focal point of their ministry. Jacob is co-host of the Same Old Song, the Mockingbird Lectionary Podcast.  He is passionate about sharing with people, especially Christians, the Good News that Christianity is not about good people getting better, but rather the God who justifies the ungodly.

Jacob has been married for 23 years to Melina Smith, the founder of Storymakers NYC and he has two children Sophia (16) and Henry (14). Jacob loves hiking, especially in the Hudson Highlands and Catskill Mountains, cooking for friends, finding amazing street food, and watching awesome television.