Bishop LaVerne D. Owens-Larkins

Bishop LaVerne D. Owens-Larkins is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, born to Samuel and Doris Duncan. She is one of seven siblings, five of whom are preachers. Bishop Owens-Larkins worked 30 years on Wall Street in Human Resources at the New York Stock Exchange; these experiences are essential to the positions she has held at the Mt. Sinai United Christian Church, and other places serving the glory of God.

Bishop Owens-Larkins graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. She received her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Christian Counseling from Cornerstone University, and is licensed as a Certified Temperament Counselor, and a Clinical Pastoral Counselor. Bishop Owens-Larkins is a member of the National Christian Counselors’ Association of Sarasota, Florida and became a minister of the preaching gospel in 1994, fully ordained in 1998 by the Rev. Victor A. Brown.

Bishop Owens-Larkins has served as a volunteer chaplain in Pastoral Care for Sisters of Charity, volunteer minister at the Silver Lake Nursing Home, as a minister to those with HIV and AIDS at St. Elizabeth Ann’s Rehabilitation Center (now the S.I. Richmond Center), and volunteer minister at the Office of Children and Family Services for 12 years.

A licensed Chaplain with the International Federation of Christian Chaplains, Inc., Bishop Owens-Larkins is the Executive Pastor of the Mt. Sinai United Christian Church, where WFICC International/Suffragan Bishop Dr. Victor A. Brown is the Senior Pastor. She served as Director of Social Concerns at Mt. Sinai United Christian Church, where she volunteered her services to Project Hospitality, Inc., helping feed the hungry for 22 years.

Recognized as one of New York City’s Powerful and Influential Women Leaders by Women Taking Charge 2, a Division of the Community, Growth, and Opportunity, Inc., Bishop Owens-Larkins was presented with the Crystal Award in 2009. She also was recognized with the 2012 Angel of Hope Award, presented by the Mt. Sinai Center for Community Enrichment and the National Action Network; the Pastor of Influence Award from the Living Waters Ministries of Staten Island in 2013; the “Women of Influence” Award from Shiloh AME Zion Church in 2013; was consecrated as one of the first women Bishops in the Worldwide Fellowship of Independent Christian Churches (WFICC) in 2014, and is now the Director of Global Missions.

Bishop Owens-Larkins has two children, Richard III and Cheryl Owens-Minus; one son-in-law, Damon Minus; three grandchildren, Richard IV, Demetrius Izell, and Trinity Renee, and one great granddaughter, Promise Freye Owens.

Bishop Owens-Larkins has a heart for God, and for the people of God.