A New Era for Easter Lutheran Church

Thirty eight years and two days after Jim Borgschatz began his journey as the founding pastor of , he will pass the reigns to a successor who was barely a gleam in her parent's eyes back on September 16, 1973. 

Just out of seminary, Borgschatz began knocking on doors in Eagan, inviting folks to be part of a new Lutheran church.

Borgschatz says that while his 38-year tenure as lead pastor is unusual, it isn't unprecedented. What is rare, though, is that he started the congregation right out of seminary and has been steadily furthering the Easter Lutheran mission ever since: to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ.

Starting with three acres of land on the corner of Pilot Knob and Diffley Roads, Easter Lutheran now has two church buildings on two campues, Easter Lutheran on the Hill (4200 Pilot Knob Road) and Easter Lutheran on the Lake (4545 Pilot Knob Road).

Although Borgschatz estimates there is a membership of about 1,300 families -- a far cry from the 43 who signed the first charter in 1973 -- he says the best way to measure a congregation is "not in membership, but people who worship each week." Using that as a measuring rod, he says there are around 1,000 people who worship at Easter regularly, attending one of the six services offered each weekend between the two locations. 

Borgschatz' retirement has been in the works for a year and a half.

He says the way he has shepherded the congregation through his departure is better likened to a relay race, than to what he calls a "hit by a bus (or) fall off a cliff" model where the exiting pastor is just suddenly gone and leaves a painful gap behind. 

He believes that type of transition is bad for the church and bad for the pastor. 

Using the relay race analogy, Borgschatz says he is in the process of handing off the Baton to 38-year-old Kristen Capel, who was chosen from a pool of 20 candidates. 

On Sept. 18, he will let go of that baton and, two weeks later, will officially retire. 

Borgschatz' mixture of excitement and grief surrounding his retirement is shared by members of the congregation.

Twenty-year member Dorie Erickson says she "loves him dearly and will miss him greatly." 

Her husband, Sandy, describes Borgschatz as very much a visionary - "looking beyond and open to new ideas."

Parishioners Roger and Joyce Dominguez feel much the same way. They say Pastor Borgschatz is very much involved with the parishioners and, even with the large congregation, he remembers their names.

Church nurse Stacy Wollmoth is excited for his future retirement and getting to move on with his own personal life.

Long-time parishioner Kathy Kelson agrees, saying, "change is hard but it will be exciting."

Borgschatz said this is the right time for him, his family and for the church. He wants to retire now because "the longer I stay, the more likely it is to be a cliff event." 

As to what he will do next, he isn't yet sure. He plans on spending three to six months to reflect and renew, and see what God has in store for him. He sees it as an opportunity for renewal and to "reinvent" himself.

After a planned period of absence, he will return to Easter, "to the back row" as just another congregant.

His wife Janet is looking forward to "having him around on a more predictable basis," he said.

Oh yes, and then there is that trip to Disneyworld with the grandkids.