Reverend Dr. Ronald L. Owens is the Senior Pastor at Saint Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church in Durham, North Carolina, where he is proclaiming the Gospel; bringing souls to Christ and making disciples. He answered a calling to preach and became a licensed minister in 1980 at Willow Tree A.M.E. Church in Morganton, North Carolina. He was admitted in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference in 1981. In 1985, he was then ordained an Itinerant Elder. He earned his Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center, with a focus in the Psychology of Religion, Pastoral Care and Counseling. He went on to earn his Doctorate of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary in Church and Ministry.

He began his pastoral ministry in 1983 in the 6th Episcopal District in the Augusta Annual Conference as a supply pastor for Hickman Tabernacle in Augusta, Georgia and St. Mark in Wadley, Georgia. He has also pastored the following churches in Georgia, Butler Creek in Augusta, Mt. Tabor in Keysville, New Hope in Senoia, St Paul in Austell, and in the Washington Circuit Bethel, Hinesville, and New Bethel, Lithonia.

Reverend Dr. Owens is a licensed clinical pastoral counselor who through his counseling equips the lay and clergy to provide spiritual care in the body of Christ. Having additionally served in the military, he retired after 21 years of active service in the Army at the rank of Major, and serving as a chaplain. He is the founder of “Relationships Matter,” a non-profit organization specializing in building better relationships.

He is an accomplished seminar presenter to both men’s and women’s groups. Excelling as a singles and couples workshop presenter, Reverend Dr. Owens conducts enrichment workshops throughout the nation for the military, churches, organizations, and other groups. He is certified in sexual harassment prevention training, and also trains care providers in suicide and grief crisis intervention. Most of all he prides himself on performing effective life enriching professional Christian counseling. His professional affiliations include the National Christian Counselors Association, the American Association of Christian Counselors, the African American Association of Christian Counselors, the College of Pastoral Counselors and Psychotherapy, the Columbia Theological Seminary Search Committee for Associate Dean of Professional Studies, and the McAfee School of Theology as a visiting faculty member.

Reverend Dr. Owens was born in Morganton, North Carolina on October 10, 1959. He is married to the former Gwendolyn Rakestraw. He is the proud father of three children, Ronald, Karawn and Ronnise and four grandchildren.

Reverend Dr. Ronald L. Owens is committed to bringing the Kingdom of God into the hearts of everyone. He has a pastor’s heart, seeking to foster reconciliation and healing between God and His people. He believes the foundation of ministry is to love God with all his heart, soul and mind, and his neighbor as himself.