Jerry Lutz Elected Chesapeake Conference President

Story by Andre Hastick

On January 5, the Chesapeake Conference Executive Committee elected Jerry Lutz to the position of Chesapeake Conference president. The executive committee convened virtually for the special session, chaired by Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president. Elder Lutz accepted the call, filling the vacancy left by former Chesapeake president, Rick Remmers, who was recently elected to serve as executive secretary for the Columbia Union.

“Chesapeake has chosen a seasoned and experienced leader,” says Weigley. “Over the years as senior pastor, and most recently as conference administrator, Elder Lutz has demonstrated his ability to effectively execute the mission of the church. He will make a great contribution in advancing Adventist education, evangelism and more. I look forward to seeing the Chesapeake Conference continue to grow under his leadership.”

Elder Lutz arrived in Chesapeake in 1996 when he accepted a call to serve as senior pastor of the Spencerville church in Silver Spring, Md. In 2014, he was elected by the Chesapeake Conference Executive Committee to serve as executive secretary. Elder Lutz will take up his new presidential responsibilities effective immediately.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation for the confidence the executive committee has placed in me, by first considering me for this position, and then by extending to me this invitation to be the president of Chesapeake Conference,” says Lutz. “It is truly a humbling experience. It is only by the grace of God that I am here today, and it is by His grace that we, together, have been called to advance the mission and ministry in our conference.”

Elder Lutz and his wife, Janet, met while attending graduate school at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. Janet is the Physician Relations coordinator at the White Oak Medical Center in Maryland. The couple has one adult son, Jarrod, who is head of the English Department at Spencerville Adventist Academy (Md). Jarrod’s wife, April, is the vice principal and history teacher at Highland View Academy in Hagerstown, Md. Jarrod and April have two children, Oliver and Hazel.

We invite you to pray for Elder Lutz as he leads our conference. We also request your prayers for the Chesapeake Conference Executive Committee members as they begin the process of selecting a new executive secretary at their next regularly scheduled meeting, January 26, 2021.