Date
03/29/2025
Position Information
Position desired: Teacher
Subjects you can teach: 7-12 Humanities Teacher, 7-12 Theology Teacher
Willing to relocate to: Anywhere in US, International
Summary:
I am someone with an interest in teaching students about theology. I have a BA in Missions, an M.Div., an MA in Eastern Orthodox Theology, and a ThM (in all but thesis) which I hope to finish over the summer. I enjoy talking about theology. church history, and pastoral everyday applications of these things. I firmly believe that how one thinks theologically influences how a person lives and it is important to provide people with tools for that process. Helping people grasp theological concepts or articulating them in a way that makes sense has always been fun for me and I would like the opportunity to help others explore the wonders of theology as I have over the last 20 years. There is much that I have studied in theology and even more that I do not know, but that is part of the beauty of theology, because it shapes the world around us and yet we can never reach the end of the subject.
As for who I am on a personal level, I was raised in the Church of the Nazarene, studied for the better part of a decade in Nazarene institutions before exploring what I considered a gap in my knowledge of the church. This brought me to NY and a context I did not know. It also resulted in me becoming Eastern Orthodox, but with an appreciation of where I had come from, because without that I would not be where I am now. Many times the thinking of John and Charles Wesley still serve as a handle for theology. While, I am no longer Protestant, my knowledge and respect for Protestantism remains. Though there are points of theology where I may differ from Protestants, I believe we can still learn from each other and live in mutual respect.
3302 Clermont Drive
Muscatine, IA 52761 United States
Home Phone: (563) 321-1805
Cell Phone: (563) 321-1805
Email: pgeruss@gmail.com
CV or Resume
Website
Facebook Page
LinkedIn
Highest Level of Education: Master’s Degree
Institutions Attended:
| Institution Name | Degree Earned (i.e., BA in English) | Date Graduated | Emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nazarene University | BA in Missiojns | May 2010 | Missions |
| Olivet Nazarene University | M.Div. | May 2016 | Divinity |
| Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary | MA | December 2021 | Orthodox Theology |
| Saint John’s University: School of Theology | ThM | August 2025 | Theology |
Employment History:
| Position | Employer | Dates of Service | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance Copy Editor/Proofreader | Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press | 02/2025-Present | |
| Summer Library Worker | College of Saint Benedict Clemens Library | 05/2024-08/2024 | |
| Obsculta Student Journal Editor | Saint John’s School of Theology | 01/2024-05/2024 | |
| SOT Academic Assistant | Saint John’s School of Theology | 10/2023-05/2024 | |
| SOT Marketing/Recruitment | Saint John’s School of Theology | 10/2023-05/2024 | |
| Ministry Intern | Kankakee First Church of the Nazarene | 09/2015-05/2016 |
Additional Qualifications:
Additional Experience with CCE:
Hobbies, Interests, and Family: My interests/hobbies include: theology, music, movies, cooking, reading.
My family consists of my parents and three siblings.
Top 5 Books:
Top 3 Books: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander I read for fun because I enjoy fantasy novels.
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander I read it because it is the sequel to The Book of Three.
A Year with Mary: Daily Meditations on the Mother of God compiled by Paul Thigpen as a daily devotional and an attempt to understand Catholic thought on Mary.
Most Influential Books: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
The Shack by William P. Young
Many Dimensions by Charles Williams
Preferred Denomination Type: Eastern Orthodox
Current Church: Saint Raphael Orthodox Church
Current Church Denomination: Antiochian Orthodox Church
Current Church Membership: Church has no membership
Current Church Attendance: Monthly
Support of Traditional Marriage: Yes
Theology: I hold to the Nicene Creed as articulated by the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). I also understand things through a particular theological framework which consists of Christian Missions, Wesleyanism, Orthodoxy, and Pastoral Theology. I am willing to discuss any points of theology in a civil manner. Much of what I have come to understand is the result of study and reflection, but there is always room to learn and grow.
Belief in the inerrancy of Scripture?: Yes
Notes on Scripture: By this definition, “The inerrancy of Scripture means that God’s word conveys His will to us perfectly.” yes.
Additional classical training: As someone who attended an ACSI accredited jr. high/high school and has spent the better part of the last two decades in various degree programs I doubt I have any formal training or experience in Classical Christian Education.
Why I want to teach at a classical school: It is important to give students tools with which to navigate theology and life and I think I can be of help in that regard. I have benefited greatly from my own education, but I have reached the point where it is time to do something more with what I have been given. As someone who naturally enjoys theological conversations and explaining theology, teaching the subject makes a great deal of sense to me. I also think, given the way paideia is described on the ACCS website, somehow, that is how my brain wants to approach theology. Even if people tell me I cannot think about something theologically, as if that were an incorrect lens, I still do because that is how I was trained. Everything filters through theology for me. Sure, other things may factor into the process, but theology is where I start.
Final thoughts: