Henry W. Lohrenz, minister, educator, and prominent leader in the Mennonite Brethren Church, was born near Moundridge, Kansas, on 2 February 1878, the third of the ten children of Heinrich and Elizabeth (Wiens) Lohrenz, who emigrated from the Molotschna Mennonite settlement in South Russia in 1874. Henry was converted and baptized into the Mennonite Brethren Church in 1896. For two years he taught school in the vicinity of Inman, Kansas. In the fall of 1900 he enrolled in the German Department School which the Mennonite Brethren Church at that time conducted in connection with McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas. After completing this course he continued in the college, graduating with the A.B. degree in 1908. He married Anna M. Friesen on 26 December 1906. Of the six children born to them four died in infancy; a daughter and a son survived.

In 1904 the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church near Hillsboro, Kansas, of which Lohrenz was a member, elected him to the ministry and ordained him three years later. He was a gifted public speaker and for 41 years preached extensively and effectively and was much in demand to speak at conferences, festivals, and at other important occasions.

Lohrenz performed the greater part of his life's service in connection with the educational efforts of the Mennonite Brethren Church, taking a leading part in the establishing of Tabor College at Hillsboro in 1908, and serving for 23 years as the president of the College. During most of this time he taught natural science and Biblical subjects in addition to the administrative duties. During these years of teaching Lohrenz continued his graduate studies, receiving the M.A. degree from Kansas University in 1911. He also attended Columbia University. When it became apparent that his work would be in the theological college, he prepared himself through further study at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, and Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois. The Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicago, granted him the D.D. degree in 1929. Beginning with September 1932 Lohrenz taught Bible and biology in Bethel College for two years, then Bible in the Corn (Oklahoma) Bible School and Academy for one year. Beginning in 1935 he served as dean of the Theological College of Tabor College for six years and continued as professor of New Testament four years more.

Lohrenz rendered valuable service in the conference activities of the M.B. Church. In his early years he was much used as secretary. For some time, he wrote and edited the Mennonite Brethren Sunday-school quarterly. The conference found in him an able leader and a useful worker, electing him to various boards and important committees. He was elected moderator of the General Conference for four three-year terms and served the Southern District Conference as moderator nine one-year terms. He served as chairman of the Board of Foreign Missions of the M.B. Church 1919-1936 and as executive secretary-treasurer 1936-1945. In connection with these duties he traveled extensively, representing the cause of missions at churches and conferences. He edited a number of booklets on missions and wrote many articles for the Zionsbote.

Lohrenz died at Hillsboro on 16 March 1945, and was buried at the local Mennonite Brethren Cemetery.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, pp. 386-387. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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