Surrounded by his library of books in his study in the Office Area, Pastor Galler looks up from his work for a quick picture on June 23, 2017. Photo: Jim Treadway.
Rev. Dr. Jayson S. Galler was installed as our full-time resident pastor on November 13, 2011. Prior to coming to Kilgore, Rev. Dr. Galler was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, and had been preaching and administering the Sacrament of the Altar for congregations across Texas whose regular pastors were away for one reason or another. In Austin he also taught various religion and philosophy classes for Concordia University Texas, Engineering Communication classes for The University of Texas at Austin, and other writing related classes for Huston-Tillotson University.
Previously Rev. Dr. Galler was assistant pastor to Grace Lutheran Church, Elgin, Texas, and sole pastor to Trinity Lutheran Church, Fernie, and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elkford, British Columbia, Canada. He completed his vicarage at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Rev. Dr. Galler earned his interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2007 from The University of Texas at Austin, basing his program in Germanic Studies with significant components focusing on Philosophy and History. He earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1998 from Brock University through Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines, Ontario. Before beginning seminary studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he worked as a television news producer in Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; and Peoria, Illinois. He had earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois, majoring in Mass Communication, with an emphasis in broadcast news, and minoring in Political Science and Public Relations.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rev. Dr. Galler was baptized there and raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, faithfully attending Divine Service and Sunday School. He has acolyted, been active in youth group, sung in choirs, taught classes, and served on various boards and committees.
Rev. Dr. Galler is single. His parents, Dr. Wayne H. and Mrs. Caryl Galler, retired to Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, where his widowed mother still lives. His older sister Jayna and her husband Barry Burgdorf live in Austin and there raised their three children, Bartyn, Jacy, and Jaclyn.
Rev. Dr. Galler resides in Kilgore and can be reached by calling or texting the church (903-984-4333) or by emailing his Pilgrim email address.
