Structure
In 1855, founders of Rush River Lutheran Church were developing a guide defining the membership and how to live together as a family of God. Our constitution has been modified and changed many times over the decades but as our PREAMBLE states:
“We, baptized members of the Church of Christ, responding in faith to the call of the Holy Spirit through the Gospel, desiring to unite together to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, and carry out God’s mission. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The powers of this congregation are vested in the congregation. It is the congregation, at the Annual Meeting, which elects and gives certain responsibilities to the Congregation Council. At the 2014 Annual Meeting, the congregation voted to change the make-up and number of the Council. The present Council consists of four officers (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer), four Council members and the Pastor.
The four non-officers of the Council serve as liaisons to the following congregational elected committees: Building and Grounds, Education and Youth, Worship and Witness and the Endowment Board.
The constitution also calls for other elected committees such as Nominating, Audit and Call Committees.
Leadership 2025
Congregation Council:
President – James Knutson
Vice President – Wanda Wells
Treasurer – Robin Peskar
Secretary – Jennifer Knutson
Members – Chad Visger, Robin Falde, Luke Hayes, Bruce Ramberg
Education and Youth Committee:
Brenda Lund, Jessica Devoe-Mornson, Cole Hayes
Worship and Witness Committee:
Carol Stephan, Cindy Johnson, Karen Cowles
Building and Grounds Committee:
Darrell Dunn, John Johnson, Don Piepgras
Endowment Board:
Ron Groth, Greg Gaulke, Paula Knutson, Lisa Anderson-Kotz, Zeb Hayes
Nominating Committee:
Nicky Brookshaw, Kathy Swenson, Faye Bergen, Cheryl Groth
Auditing Committee:
Paula Knutson, Emily Pierson, Marti Piepgras
Pastor Carolyn Staats
My name is Pastor Carolyn Staats, and I am both delighted and honored to be your pastor!
I am originally from the Milwaukee area, where I grew up with my parents and two sisters. I attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where I received a bachelor’s degree with majors in psychology and social welfare. While at UW, I held various leadership positions in Lutheran Campus Ministry, and worked at Lutherdale Bible Camp, in university administration, and at the UW Law School. It was during my time as an intern at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison that I first felt the call to pastoral ministry.
After graduation, I moved to the Twin Cities to attend Luther Seminary, where I received my Master of Divinity degree. I completed my yearlong pastoral internship at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN.
My first call as an ordained pastor was to Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Hudson, WI, where I served from 2019 – 2024. I am grateful for all that I learned and all the ways I was able to serve that congregation and the larger Hudson community in the name of Christ.
I met my husband Mike while we were students at UW, and we are proud cat parents to Boo and Minnie. Mike works in Baldwin, WI as a mental health therapist. When we are not working, we like to hike, go to Twins games, and watch movies. I also love to read and bake.
It is truly a delight to get to know you all here at Rush River! May the peace, joy, and love of Christ be with you!