Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens is the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. She is the first person of color and second woman to lead the denomination. Since her election in 2017, Rev. Hord Owens has led the denomination with a passion for spiritual formation grounded in Biblical scholarship and a commitment to justice.
Rev. Hord Owens is actively committed to the Disciples’ priority of being an anti-racist church, being a movement for wholeness, welcoming all to the Lord’s table as God has welcomed us. Her exhortation to the church is “Let’s be the church we say we are. It is in being who we say we are that we actively bear witness to God’s limitless love for all.” In addition to collaborative service with the ministries that comprise Disciples Justice Ministries, she has been active in leadership in the Poor People’s Campaign, and other ecumenical and interfaith collaboratives. In keeping with the Disciples’ historic commitment to Christian unity, she serves in leadership at the National Council of Churches as the Treasurer of the Governing Board and a member of the World Council of Churches Central Committee.
Rev. Hord Owens earned her bachelor’s degree in Government with a minor in Afro- American Studies from Harvard University. Hord Owens’ resume includes more than 20 years in corporate America leading diverse teams in data management in health care and other industries before she entered seminary.
A graduate of University of Chicago Divinity School, Rev. Hord Owens served 15 years as the Dean of Students at her alma matter, shepherding a varied student body in both background and theology. In addition to her service at University of Chicago, Rev. Hord Owens was the pastor of First Christian Church of Downers Grove, Illinois, where she continued their long legacy of community partnership. Under Rev. Hord Owens’ leadership, FCCDG is now an open and affirming, anti-racism, pro-reconciliation congregation. FCCDG also nests an independent Hispanic congregation, Fe Y Esperanza, with whom they share in a variety of ministries throughout the year.
Hord Owens is widely sought after as a preacher, speaker and workshop facilitator. Her ministry and intellectual interests include a theology of reconciliation, cultural intelligence, developing inclusive and multi-cultural congregations, and the mentoring of young adults.
Rev. Hord Owens is married to Walter Owens, Jr., and are the proud parents of an adult son, W. Mitchell Owens, III and daughter-in-law Adri Owens and new grandparents to Zachary.
Messages from the GMP
Playlist of video messages, including the “Imagine With Me” series
Connect with the GMP
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens looks forward to opportunities to connect with members of the Church. If you would like to request her presence for a worship service, a recorded message for your church anniversary, participation in a workshop or other event, please click on the button below to submit a request form. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Shannon Pope, Exec. Asst. to the General Minister & President at [email protected]. We look forward to connecting you with your GMP.