Father Peter Geromel, OHI DMin, Rector at St. Peter the Apostle, grew up in Flint, Michigan, the son of an Anglican priest. He was raised in that tradition, and his parents before him. Homeschooled through high school, he attended VMI, completing his “Rat” year, before transferring to Hillsdale College to study Philosophy. He matriculated to Reformed Episcopal Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity cum laude, followed by a Master of Theology from Cranmer Theological House. He also holds a Master of Humanities from the University of Dallas and has taken several graduate courses at Villanova University. His Doctor of Ministry is from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, which was founded in 1810 in Philadelphia and which later moved to Pittsburgh. He has written four books, Christ & College: A Guide from the Anglican Way, Sublime Duty: Its Emphasis in the Anglican Way, Frankincense and Mirth on High, and Arrows & Chariots: A Thematic Journey through Philosophy’s History.

Unapologetically Anglo-Catholic in his theology, Fr. Geromel grew up around clergy from varied churches, Greek and Russian Orthodox, Maronite and Byzantine Catholic. He was involved in Young Life, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Canterbury Club, and Boy Scouts in his youth. He has been serving for over a decade in parish ministry, as well as three years as a full-time hospice chaplain, and six as an adjunct professor in Philosophy. He has served in parishes throughout the South, including South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. He is a priest in the Order of the Holy Innocents, a society dedicated to Life and Bioethical issues. His other ministries have been varied, including working for food pantries and as a chaplain to truck drivers in New Jersey. Presently, he is an adjunct professor in the Philosophy and Religious Studies department at Radford and an instructor at St. Bede’s Anglican Catholic Theological College.

In addition, he is canon missioner for the local diocese and chaplain for Pack 145 in Christiansburg as well as a Chaplain for the Virginia Defense Force (Reserve of the VA National Guard). 

He is married to Kari, who is from the Carolinas, and they have three sons. Kari was raised in a Bible-believing church, attended Appalachian Bible College, and was training to be a missionary to Muslims in the United Kingdom when they met. They enjoy hiking and outdoor activities and watching “Brit Crimes” and comedy together. Fr. Geromel likes to play Scottish snare drum and Bodhran to Celtic music and fiddled once upon a time.

Fr. Geromel’s focus on ministry is “incarnational,” believing in non-anxious and prayerful presence in the community. Christ said, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In this way, the center of an incarnational ministry is the local “temple,” the church. The Apostles began by participating in the daily prayers in Solomon’s Temple at Jerusalem (Acts 3:1), and slowly moved out concentrically in missionary effort. Likewise, the priest (and congregation if they wish) begins with the daily prayers at the local church each day, and then the missionary and evangelistic effort ripples out from there; works of mercy and pastoral visitations begin and end at the altar of God. This is consistent with the Anglican tradition’s Benedictine model of ora et labora (prayer and work, or prayer and effort) and enshrined in the Book of Common Prayer (pg. 19, 1662 BCP) and Canons of the Church (Canon 12.1.01). Cf. Acts 2:42, 46; Daniel 6:10; Hebrews 10:25.

 

Father Gregory Seeley and his wife, Shannon, arrived in August. Deacon Gregory is the curate having recently graduated from Nashotah House Seminary in Wisconsin. Coming from California originally and, with ten years of experience in monastic life before marriage, the Deacon has a wealth of treasurer to share with the congregation especially in the realm of spirituality, prayer life, and he has an interest in spiritual direction and liturgy. 

Father Alex Darby is the associate priest and a former priest-in-charge at St. Peter’s. Previously an officer in the United States Navy and holding a B.S. in Sociology from Excelsior University, Fr. Darby finally had a chance to pursue the priesthood in the latter part of his life. Having served as founding rector in Warrenton, Virginia for several years, and at St. Peter’s for four years, he is a volunteer chaplain at the local hospital and sings in the Master Chorale in the New River Valley. He is married to Sheila Darby, our choir director and the widow of Bishop Scott, a former rector of our parish. 

VESTRY (2023)

Ted Paisley

Allen Butterfield

Phil Williams, Treasurer

Dr. Dan Drysdale

Lisa Olver

Dr. Mike Slayton

Vicki Williams, Secretary