Dr. Wesley SK Daniel, a native of Sri Lanka, was ordained Deacon in 1985 and Elder in 1989 in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. While in Iowa, he has served both small and large congregations. He also served as Associate Council Director for Evangelism and Congregational Development for seven years. He has authored numerous articles and served as the Editor of Offering Christ Today, a publication of the General Board of Discipleship. His recent publication, Understanding My Faith Journey with Christ, was published by Discipleship Resources.
Dr. Daniel attended Southern California and Iowa Wesleyan Colleges, graduating with Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy and minor in Biology. He holds a Master of Divinity degree and Master of Theology degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. He also holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Evangelism and Church Development from Fuller Theological Seminary.
For six years, he served the General Church in the capacity of Director of Evangelism and International Church Development at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee. Most recently, he has been the Conference Superintendent of the then Des Moines District and now Central District. Dr. Daniel also served as the Dean of the Bishop’s Appointive Cabinet, a position to which he was elected by his colleagues for the past two years.
In 2008, he was elected by the Iowa General and Jurisdictional Conference Delegation and nominated by the Iowa Annual Conference as the Episcopal Candidate. Dr. Daniel has traveled extensively to many parts of the world, preached and taught within his own and other denominational churches.
In July 1, 2010, Pastor Daniel was appointed as the Lead Pastor of West Des Moines United Methodist Church by Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble. Dr. Daniel has a deep faith and passionate commitment to share the love of Christ, teach and equip leaders across the church to passionately be about the task of making and maturing Christian disciples. He is deeply committed to relentlessly doing his part in helping our denomination become an agent of change, reconciliation and justice.