Dr. Darrell J. Wesley
Dr. Darrell J. Wesley is a theologian, philosopher, Senior Navy Chaplain, and pastor. His education comprises of an A.A degree in English from Southwestern Christian College, B.A in English and an M.S in Bible from Abilene Christian University. He also has an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee, Master of Sacred Theology from Yale University Divinity School and an M. A in National Strategic and Security Studies from the Naval War College. He has earned two doctorate degrees, a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. degree in Theology, Ethics, and Culture from Claremont Graduate University. Dr. Wesley was ordained out of the Fourth Episcopal District by the late
Bishop Thomas Hoyt and currently serves in the Ninth Episcopal District under the leadership of Bishop Bobby R. Best.
He has served as pastor for St. James CME Church in Salinas, CA and Hayes Chapel CME Church in Seaside, CA. For the past 23 years, he served as an active-duty Navy Chaplain retiring the rank of Captain (0-6). He is Senior Pastor for Amos Temple CME Church in Riverside, CA and adjunct professor of religion and philosophy at Vincennes University. His current publication is a book chapter entitled “Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say: Viewing Rap Music as a Form of African American Spirituality” in the edited book Toward an Urban God-Talk. In this chapter, Dr. Wesley introduces his theory of “Radical Ontology,” which has been cited and discussed in several academic papers in the fields of hip-hop and spirituality. He is currently working on two books: Present and Accounted for: A Memoir of an African American Navy Chaplain and An Archaeology of Black Churches: Tracing the Prophetic Decline. Dr. Wesley has a deep interest in social justice, prophetic witness, and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
