That is the same problem I have been having - using apr and apr-util as static libraries. It seems that when modules need other things from apr and/or apr-util they do not load properly - so I am going to try with apr and apr-util as shared libraries.
Strangely enough, httpd-2,2 seems to work with with static apr and apr-util. Although, maybe I have not troed the right modules to break that.
Will know more soon.