Dr. Eric Vail

Title: Professor of Theology

Years at MVNU: 2012-2025

Degrees:

* Ph.D. Religious Studies: Systematic Theology, Marquette University

* M.Div., Nazarene Theological Seminary 

* B.A., Philosophy, Northwest Nazarene University 

Awards, Grants, Accolades, Publishing:

Published Books 

* Atonement and Salvation, The Wesleyan Theology Series (The Foundry Publishing, Forthcoming 2026).

* Creation, The Wesleyan Theology Series (The Foundry Publishing, 2022).

* Eschatology, The Wesleyan Theology Series (The Foundry Publishing, 2020).

* Atonement and Salvation: The Extravagance of God’s Love (Beacon Hill Press, 2016).

* Creation and Chaos Talk: Charting a Way Forward, Princeton Theological Monograph Series (PICKWICK Publications, 2012).

Campus Involvement

* Cougar Wall of Fame Committee, Athletics, 2024-present

* Faculty Evaluation Committee, 2023-present

* Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR), 2023-present

* Mentor for new faculty members, 2021-2022, Spring 2023, 2024-Present         

* Admissions Committee, 2017-Present         

* Religion Program Coordinator, School of Christian Ministry, 2014-Present         

* General Education Committee, 2014-2017, 2019-Present  

*   Host, senior theology students gathering, FA, SP

* Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Works (sURC), six student presentations

* Participant, intramural sports in basketball, softball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, flag football 😊

* Past MVNU responsibilities and commitments: Old Testament Faculty Search Committee (Chair), Travel Trips Scholarship Committee, New Testament Faculty Search Committee, Faculty Pay Task Force (Chair), Higher Learning Commission Year Four Assurance Committee, Faculty Reading Group Co-Leader, NetVUE Vocation Task Force, General Education Curriculum Revision Summer Working Group, NetVUE Core Team, Youth and Family Ministry Faculty Search Committee, Athletic Leadership Council, Biblical Literature Faculty Search Committee, Pastoral Ministry Faculty Search Committee, Art Faculty Search Committee, Student Judicial Committee, Biology Department Self-Study Review Committee, Traditional Academic Council, MVNU Title III Grant Evaluation Committee, Committee member and facilitator for the annual Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Works (sURC), President’s Advisory Council, Coordinator for MVNU hosting the 50th Annual Meeting of the Wesleyan Theological Society (March, 2015), Faculty Advisor, Young Theologians Society, Planning Committee Member, John A. Knight Theology Conference, Committee Member, Campus Life Committee

Service to the Church of the Nazarene

* Ordained Elder, Church of the Nazarene, 2011 - present

* Workshop Presenter, PALCON Conference (MVNU Region), 2024, 2016

* Pastor, Circle Church: Word and Table Service, Mt. Vernon, OH, 2017 - present

* Ministerial Studies Board, North Central Ohio District, Church of the Nazarene. 2021-present

* Alumni Council Representative, MVNU Region, Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO, 2014-2017             

* Board Member, Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene, Mt. Vernon, OH, 2014-2015               

* SDMI Board Member, Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene, Mt. Vernon, OH, 2013-2014             

* Global Review Team (theology section), Global Theology Conference, South Africa, 2013  

* Lead Pastor, St. Joseph Church of the Nazarene, 2010-2012                    

Biography

Dr. Eric Vail has served the students of MVNU since 2012, when he applied for a position as professor of Theology at MVNU. With his vast knowledge of theology and the tenets of the Nazarene faith, Dr. Vail’s best works can be seen in the lives of the students who are privileged to sit in his courses on Christian theology, doctrine of Christian holiness, philosophy for theology, and multiple general education sections of Christian Beliefs. In addition, he speaks life into his local congregation as a pastor, teacher, and friend, and has served the MVNU community on dozens of faculty search committees, student research projects, committee memberships, and the advancement of the athletic programs at MVNU. Dr. Vail regularly engages in the discipleship and shepherding of his colleagues and his students, while simultaneously finding time to author books and manuscripts, or serve the local MVNU community. Dr. Vail is a writer, a pastor, a teacher, and a valued colleague. His absence across MVNU’s vast reach, but particularly in the Christian Ministries department, cannot be discounted.

Eric’s Testimony

I grew up in Nazarene higher education. My mom's aunt, Thelma Culver, was Academic Dean at Northwest Nazarene College through the 1950's and 60's. On my dad's side, my grandpa Virgil Vail and great uncle Elmore Vail taught at Northwest Nazarene, Olivet, Trevecca, and Point Loma. My uncle Larry Vail spent his career at Olivet and my dad Mike Vail worked for Olivet, Trevecca, and the Church of the Nazarene's International Board of Education (IBOE). I grew up on Olivet's campus, attending College Church of the Nazarene in Bourbonnais, IL through high school.

My own call to ministry first came on a family vacation when I was eleven. While staring out the car window (probably somewhere in western Nebraska) I remember a burning desire to give my life in fulltime ministry as the family was reading out loud the missionary book Sons of Africa by Elmer Schmelzenbach. For the next nine years I asked God for clarity on exactly what that ministry was supposed to be. Finally in my sophomore year of college at NNC (now NNU), God made it abundantly clear that I was supposed to be a theology professor. I shared my calling with Dr. George Lyons, who had known my family and me through the 1980's at Olivet, and he chuckled something to the effect, "You're a Vail. What else did you think you were supposed to be?"  I never doubted my calling to Nazarene higher education as I went on to complete my M.Div. at Nazarene Theological Seminary and my Ph.D. in systematic theology from Marquette University.

When I started kindergarten, Jeff Wine, my best childhood friend, moved to Illinois from the far-off land of Ohio. We tolerated his obnoxious love for all things OSU all the way through high school. Included in his strange Ohio loves was MVNC. He would talk about this wonderful school in the middle of nowhere with a barn on its campus where students hung out. I don't know if he knew how crazy he sounded to people growing up on Olivet's campus. While the rest of us went elsewhere, he followed his dream of going to MVNC. The first time I ever got to visit the campus was fifteen years later when, in 2012, I was invited for an interview. While the drive from the airport could have rattled our enthusiasm, it had just stormed, the evening sun was peeking through the clouds, and the brilliant green trees and farmland along highway 62 looked like heaven. Our sense of being home when we stepped onto campus that evening was immediate.

During my interview day, I remember at the end of one session that Lincoln Stevens, Alex Varughese, and Terrell Sanders stayed behind with me. They painted a picture of a career at MVNU. They told me that this was not a place to come if I just wanted a stepping stone to something else. This was a place to move and stay. MVNU was a community—an identity and way of life to be woven into. Each of them had settled in Mount Vernon, OH between 27-35 years prior with their families, raised their kids in the local schools, and were committed to MVNU until their retirements. Even before I had the job, those veteran faculty were teaching me the culture of MVNU and how to live that culture as one of its professors.

My older son Dalan stepped onto a Mount Vernon school bus within days of moving to town to start kindergarten. My younger son Rowan enjoyed two years at Esther Jetter Preschool before it was his turn to jump on that bus. As I was taught by my veteran colleagues, we have been woven into the fabric of MVNU and, in turn, handed on that culture to the many faculty who have come after us. We have raised our boys here: with Dalan graduating from Mount Vernon High School this spring and Rowan finishing his sophomore year. Carrie and I have had the privilege of having our dream jobs and being woven into a pretty amazing community while raising our boys. 

Eric’s Favorite MVNU Memory:

Every spring before graduation we have school chapel services. When the School of Christian Ministry gathers, it is certainly nice to honor some of the graduates with awards for excellence in various areas. However, the highlight every year is inviting all of the graduating seniors into the center of the room at the close of the service. The faculty gather around them and pray over them as they will soon be leaving MVNU. While there will be tears every year, I cannot think of a more powerful moment in the annual cycle at MVNU.

 Eric’s Words to Students: 

Through the years I have watched students obey God's call on their lives and do the hard work of earning their degrees in ministry. They have not known where they would find a ministry placement, or even if they knew what area of ministry they should pursue. As I have watched them get into their careers, their paths may not always be a straight line. However, I see God's faithfulness to guide them into an area of ministry where they are so wonderfully gifted, confident, and fruitful. No part of the journey is wasted. God uses it all. Do not fear any journey that you take in service to God. 

As you recall the impact of Dr. Vail’s influence on your life and learning, it would be a welcomed gesture for you to share words of affirmation or appreciation with him in the message box below.  Dr. Vail’s incredible participation in both the life of the university and the Nazarene church deserves recognition —MVNU’s loss of his faithful service will leave a large void.