Our Pastor

Reverend Dr. Della Jane Owens-Barber, D.Min.

Reverend Dr. Della J. Owens-Barber is the Senior Pastor of Saint James Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Wilson, NC. She was born in Dillon, South Carolina. Pursuing her educational goals, she attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, receiving a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. In May 2002, she received her Master of Theological Studies from Duke University Divinity School and Doctor of Ministry from Apex School of Theology, May 2011in Durham, N.C. Her dissertation project is titled: “Evangelism Empowerment: For the Newly Organized Church by a Female Pastor.”

Pastor Owens-Barber has over twenty-six years of congregational leadership. She served as an Associate Minister at Ecclesia House of Prayer in Durham, NC (1999-2002), Youth Pastor for Faith Oasis Community Church in Raleigh, NC (2002-2004), Co-Pastor of Eternal Life Baptist Church in Durham (2004-2006), and Assistant Pastor at Amazing Life Community Church in Raleigh (2006-2008). She was the founder and pastor of Greater HOPE Community Church in Raleigh from 2008-2017. Convener for the Durham Fellowship of the Women of Faith Ministries from 2010-2015. She joined Greenleaf Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Goldsboro, NC in 2019 under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II where she served as an Associate Minister. She was ordained with the Christian Church Disciples of Christ in January 2021.

Her professional career with the Garner Police Department and the City of Durham as a Police Officer, Telecommunicator, Police Records Manager, Recruitment Coordinator, and a Crime Scene Technician. She was a Criminal Justice Adjunct Professor at North Carolina Central University and the Director for Project SPARKS to re-integrate long-term suspended students back into the public school’s system. She was the Executive Director for Durham Companions, the Governor’s one-on-one mentoring program for at-risk youth. She was employed at Duke University at the Sanford School of Public Policy working with students to create social programs to address the ills of society. She served as the Project Manager for REACH, an initiative to research environmental factors that contribute to breast cancer among African American women at the Nicholas School of Environment at Duke University. She is the National Director of Safety and Security for Repairers of the Breach, a faith-based social justice organization and the Poor People’s Campaign who are addressing the five interlocking injustices of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of religious nationalism. She was appointed as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Master of Christian Education for Hosanna Bible College in Durham (2015-2019).

Pastor Owens-Barber has put your body on the line to fight for justice and equality. In October 2021, she was arrested while protesting at the Hart Building in Washington, DC during a Black Women Leaders and Allies Voting Rights and Economic Justice Freedom Walk. She also serves as the President of the Raleigh Alumnae Delta Endowment, a member of the Chaplain’s Council for the South Atlantic Region, and the Social Action Co-Chair from 2019-2022 for the Raleigh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She served as the co-facilitator for the Wake County Lupus Support Group from 2013 to 2024. Currently serving on the North Carolina Council of Churches Advisory Board. She was voted Pastor of the Month for November 2024 by Radio One the Light 103.9. October 2025 she was appointed to serve on the Board of Advisors’ at Barton College.

Her ministry goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to teach the great truths of Christ that will allow others the working ideology of discipleship. She believes that there must be a strong emphasis on teaching through simplicity, repetition, and life-related illustrations. Her passion is to help others proclaim eternity and to imitate Christ in the public square and the pulpit that others might know Him. Her greatest desire is to bring glory to God as she serves as His ambassador. She is the proud mother of Jamila A. McKinnon and wife of Bishop William J. Barber, II.