Pastor Allen

          William Steven Allen, Sr. is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina and the youngest of three children born to William Allen and Sarah Hunt Allen.  He received his elementary education at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Catholic School and graduated salutatorian in the Class of 1973 from James Benson Dudley Sr. High School in Greensboro, North Carolina.  He is a summa cum laude graduate of North Carolina A&T State University in the Class of 1976, a graduate from the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill School of Law in the Class of 1978 with service as a member of the Holderness Moot Court Bench and a 2011 graduate with a Master’s degree in Divinity from the Shaw University Divinity School in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Following law school, he was selected to serve as a research assistant to The Honorable Richard C. Erwin, Judge of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.  At the conclusion of his clerkship, Pastor Allen set up a law office in Greensboro, North Carolina.   After several years, he changed his legal focus from the practice of law to dispensing justice as a Superior Court Judge from Guilford County, presiding over courtrooms throughout the State of North Carolina.  

He was the first African American elected to serve as a Superior Court Judge in Guilford County since Reconstruction.  As a part of his life’s journey, the Honorable Judge Allen reassessed his goals and decided to return to the practice of law with a focus on trial practice in state and federal courts.  Yet, God was not through with him

yet.   

 On January 14, 2007, William Steven Allen, Sr., was licensed as a Baptist preacher by Shiloh Baptist Church of Greensboro.  On September 13, 2009, he was ordained as a minister of the gospel by Shiloh Baptist Church of Greensboro.   Prior to entering the ministry, Reverend Allen served God and his Church home as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, Boy Scout leader and Scoutmaster of Troop #443, and Church van driver.  He served as a member and past chairman of the Budget, Finance, Long Range Planning, Nominating, Pulpit Search Committees of the Church, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the J.T. Hairston Memorial Apartments, Inc., a non-profit corporation established by Shiloh Baptist Church of Greensboro which owns a one hundred eight unit subsidized affordable housing complex.   He had been tapped to serve as the first Chair of the committee for the development and construction of the Otis L. Hairston Sr. Family Life Enrichment Center.  Further, his church leadership roles included serving twice as Chairman of the Deacon Board, and selection as Chairman of the Ninetieth and One Hundredth Anniversary Celebrations for the Church.

 In September 2011, Shiloh Baptist Church of Greensboro extended the call to Reverend Allen to serve as its eleventh pastor.  On November 1, 2011, he began his service as pastor.  Under his leadership the church is experiencing a glorious rebirth.  Under his pastorate new life is being given to the church’s motto, “Shiloh Cares About People.” The Church is experiencing a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Old ministries are being revitalized and the Church is once more engaged in a holistic outreach ministry assisting the needy with rent assistance, utility assistance, a food pantry, and emergency housing. Reverend Allen’s ministry is a servant-oriented ministry which seeks to help others. Under his leadership, the church has resumed participation in and faithful support of the Rowan Baptist Association and the General Baptist State Convention.

Throughout his life, Reverend Allen has answered the call to serve his community.  He is a life member of the NAACP, and former Parliamentarian of the North Carolina Conference of the NAACP, and Parliamentarian of the Greensboro Chapter of the NAACP.  He has served as Secretary of the Shaw University Divinity School National Alumni Association;  President of the Shaw University Divinity School National Alumni Association; member of the Triad Alumni Chapter of Shaw University; President of  the Board of Trustees for the Greensboro Public Library; Chairperson of the Guilford County Board of Adjustments;  Board of Directors of the Greensboro Chapter of the American Red Cross; Board of Directors of Summit House; Board of Directors of Relay, Inc.;  charter member of the State of North Carolina Indigent Defense Commission;  member of the Disciplinary Committee of the North Carolina State Bar; Board of Directors of the  Old North State Council of Boy Scouts of America; member of the Board of Governors  and Vice-President of the North Carolina Bar Association; President of the Greensboro Young Lawyers Association; member of the Board of Directors of the Greensboro Bar Association; Vice-President of the Guilford County Association of Black Lawyers;  member of the National and the Gate City Chapter of North Carolina A&T State University Alumni Association.

Pastor Allen is a member of the General Board of the North Carolina General Baptist State Convention, Inc., the Board of Visitors of the Shaw University Divinity School where he serves as Chairperson of the Academic Subcommittee, President of the Pulpit Forum of Greensboro and Vicinity; the Advisory Committee of the North Carolina Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission, and Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Shepherd Center of Greensboro.

He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  He has been selected as a member of the James Benson Dudley, Sr. High School Hall of Distinction.  He is the recipient of the Shaw Divinity School Visionary Leadership Award and the Whitney M. Young Award from the Old North State Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Reverend Allen is married to Sharlene Fuller Allen. They are the proud parents of six children: Stephanie Lanae Allen, Melanie Renee Allen, William Steven Allen, Jr., Irving David Allen, Richard Erwin Allen and Lara Simone Allen. They have four grandchildren – Amaya Nicole Wilkins-Allen, Kamryn Elise Allen, Kawai Allen and Jayson William Allen.