Rev. Thompson is a native Texan who grew up in the piney Woods, and has been a Unitarian Universalist minister for over twenty years. He first served as a student minister in the Dallas—Fort Worth area, then as an intern minister in Shreveport, Louisiana. For six years, he was a parish minister in Beaumont, Texas. During that time, he also served as a consulting minister in Houston and Galveston. He spent one year as an interim minister in Los Angeles, California, followed by six years as a parish minister in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Over the past eight years, he has served Timberland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Lufkin, Texas, as a part—time consulting minister.

Ministry is a second career for Rev. Thompson. He came to this calling after fifteen years as a high school teacher of history, government, economics and debate. He earned his undergraduate degree in political science and public address from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1974, and his divinity degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1993.

In 1999 he helped organize the Beaumont Chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). In 2005 he helped organize the Tuscaloosa Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. In 1998 he received the CUUPs Fuller—Thoreau Award “for spirited defense of religious freedom, and in 1999 he received an Anti —Defamation League award “in recognition Of outstanding efforts to guard religious liberties for all. ”

Rev. Thompson and his wife Pamela have been married for 42 years. They are vegetarians who share their home with two feline Companions, Sweet pea and Butternut.