Reverend Dr. Della J. Owens is the senior pastor of Saint James Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Wilson, N.C. A native of Dillon, S.C., she holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University in Durham. She earned a Master of Theological Studies from Duke Divinity School in 2002 and a Doctor of Ministry from Apex School of Theology in 2011. Her dissertation, “Evangelism Empowerment: For the Newly Organized Church by a Female Pastor,” focuses on strategies for church growth and leadership.
Owens brings more than 24 years of experience in congregational leadership. She has served as an associate minister, youth pastor, co-pastor, and founder of Greater HOPE Community Church in Raleigh, where she served from 2008 to 2017. She was ordained with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 2021 and previously worked with Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro under Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. Owens also led the Durham Fellowship of Women of Faith Ministries as convener from 2010 to 2015.
Beyond her ministry, Owens has made significant contributions in public service and education. She has held various roles with the Garner Police Department and the City of Durham, including police officer, telecommunicator, police records manager, and crime scene technician. She also served as a recruitment coordinator and adjunct professor in criminal justice at North Carolina Central University. Owens led community initiatives such as Project SPARKS, which helped reintegrate long-term suspended students into the public school system. As executive director for Durham Companions, she oversaw the Governor’s one-on-one mentoring program for at-risk youth.
She also held leadership positions at Duke University, where she worked with students at the Sanford School of Public Policy to develop social programs addressing societal issues. At Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, she served as project manager for REACH, an initiative researching environmental factors contributing to breast cancer among African American women. Owens currently serves as the national director of safety and security for Repairers of the Breach, a faith-based social justice organization, and the Poor People’s Campaign, which advocates for systemic change in areas such as racism, poverty, ecological devastation, and militarism.
Owens is a passionate advocate for social justice and was arrested in October 2021 during a Black Women Leaders and Allies Voting Rights and Economic Justice Freedom Walk at the Hart Building in Washington, D.C. She is actively involved in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she served as president of the Raleigh Alumnae Delta Endowment and social action co-chair for the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter from 2019 to 2022. Owens is also a member of the Chaplain’s Council for the South Atlantic Region and co-facilitated the Wake County Lupus Support Group from 2013 to 2024. She currently serves on the advisory board for the North Carolina Council of Churches. In 2024, she was recognized as Pastor of the Month by Radio One’s The Light 103.9.
Owens’ ministry focuses on empowering others through discipleship, emphasizing simplicity, repetition, and life-related teachings. She strives to help individuals imitate Christ both in the public square and the pulpit, aiming to bring glory to God through her service. She is the proud mother of Jamila A. McKinnon.
