Rev. Kent F. Jackson has been serving the UMC of Hyde Park since July of 2023. Pastor J has a passion for connecting the truth of scripture with principles for daily living. He continually seeks creative and engaging ways to inspire people to use their spiritual gifts in service to one another and the community.

 Pastor Jackson received his MDiv from Saint Paul School of Theology - Kansas City, MO (1994), BA Religion & Music from Albright College - Reading, PA (1988) and graduated from Norwalk High School - Norwalk, CT (1984). He has been ordained since 1994 and has served 5 other churches in the New York Annual Conference: Branford (CT), Trinity Newburgh (NY), Walden (NY), North Haven (CT) & Naugatuck (CT). He also served as a Mission Intern with the General Board of Global Ministries from September 1988 through June 1991 working at Radio Trieste Evangelica (Trieste, Italy) and Clergy & Laity Concerned (Eugene, Oregon).

Pastor J has been married to his wife Anne since 1998. Anne loves gardening, photography and taking walks with their dog Roxy. They have two children. Adam is a music educator in CT and enjoys lighting and sound design for local community theaters. Hannah is a student at Central Connecticut State University majoring in Studio Art and she enjoys running on the CCSU Cross Country and Track & Field teams. 

In his free time Pastor J enjoys exercising and running 5K Road Races, walking and hiking in the woods, golfing, playing Trumpet, and listening to Contemporary Christian Music. Having spent 3 years in the Kansas City area he can also be found cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. Previously, Pastor J also enjoyed coaching Middle School Cross Country & High School Track & Field (Throws) in Branford, CT.