Oklahoma re-elects Nehrenz, focuses on outreach

Nehrenz

By Anthony Oliphant

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Oklahoma District met for its 51st regular convention June 13–14 in Edmond, Okla. The Rev. Dr. David R. Nehrenz, Norman, Okla., was elected on the first ballot to a second term as district president.

Also elected were:

Rev. Christopher Hall, Tulsa, Okla., re-elected as first vice-president;

Rev. Mark R. Muenchow, Oklahoma City, Okla., re-elected as second vice-president; and

Rev. Timothy L. McCarty, Kingfisher, Okla., re-elected as third vice-president.

All elected officers were installed during the convention.

Guided by the convention theme “Praying to the Lord of the Harvest,” drawn from Luke 10:2, delegates adopted resolutions:

To increase mission and outreach efforts to immigrant and non-dominant cultural groups by urging circuits, congregations, church workers and laity to seek where and how they can assimilate local members of these groups into the life of the local congregations;

To aid small congregation and multi-congregation parishes by encouraging use of the Partnership Project (LCMS Kansas District), re:Vitality, MissionInsite, Rural and Small Town Mission resources from the LCMS, and others;

To inspire training for witness by directing circuit visitors to include program time during at least one circuit meeting per year to discuss outreach, and to request the district evangelism executive to resource a self-assessment tool to assist congregational evangelism committees to discover opportunities and training for key witnessing skills, memorializing the LCMS to do the same in convention; and

To encourage and support Set Apart to Serve in the Oklahoma District to recruit church workers among younger generations.

The Rev. Anthony Oliphant is pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, Ill.

Posted July 31, 2025