General Superintendent J. K. Warrick announced the June 14 election of David Lutz as superintendent of the East Ohio District. 

Elected on the first ballot, Lutz replaces Chuck Sunberg as district superintendent. Sunberg recently resigned from the position. His wife, Carla Sunberg, is president of Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri.

Lutz, who currently serves as pastor of the Napoleon Church of the Nazarene on the Northwestern Ohio District, will assume his duties as East Ohio district superintendent July 27.

“East Ohio is a district with a strong heritage and filled with people who love their Lord,” Lutz said. “I couldn’t be happier that God has led me to be part of their family.”

A native of West Virginia, Lutz is a graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene College (now University) and Nazarene Theological Seminary. He moved to Napoleon after graduating from NTS in 1991 and has pastored the Napoleon church ever since. 

The Napoleon church grew in attendance and membership for 23 of those 24 years, and for the last 20 years consecutively. Napoleon is the only Nazarene church on the USA/Canada Region to have an increase in total membership for the last 20 straight years, according to Nazarene Research.

“I have been fortunate to be part of a church in Napoleon that has seen the blessings of God,” Lutz said. “We have taught the message of holiness and lived it out in our community. Napoleon has been a testimony that people are hungry for the life-transforming truth of Jesus Christ.”

Lutz is a member of the Napoleon Rotary Club, served on the Henry County Hospital's Ethics Board and the CASA Board, coached Little League baseball and softball, and is president of the Ministerial Association. He also serves on several of the Church of the Nazarene’s district boards and councils.

Dave and his wife, Janet, have two children, Rachel and Brad. The couple resides in Napoleon.