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Paster Gaylen Spinler and his wife Sally have recently moved to Slayton. Spinler will serve as the pastor at Slayton and Lake Wilson Methodist Churches.
By Crystal Reith According to Pastor Galen Spinler, he retired to go to work.
After 13 years of research and development at Hormel Foods in Austin, Minnesota, Spinler retired in June 2025 to become the new pastor at Slayton United Methodist Church and Lake Wilson United Methodist Church. Starting his new role on July 1, relocating to Southwest Minnesota felt like moving home to Spinler, his wife Sally and their four dogs.
“Sally grew up in Mankato, but her mother was born in Pipestone, and she spent her childhood summers in Pipestone with her grandparents,” said Spinler. “We’re thrilled to be back in her home area.”
Spinler grew up on a small dairy farm between Owatonna and Blooming Prairie and his family has deep roots in faith with many serving in religious roles.
“Ministry has been a lifelong calling from early in my childhood,” said Spinler, who has played in a polka band at his childhood church for 33 years. “I was very active in my faith as a church musician and liturgist. Music is such a big part of any liturgical service.”
Born and raised Roman Catholic, Spinler didn’t see many opportunities for ministry. However, as the couple began attending Ellendale United Methodist Church in Ellendale, Minnesota, about four years ago, Spinler witnessed lay ministry for the first time.
“I felt a rekindling I had all my life to become involved in ministry,” said Spinler. “At the Ellendale church, Pastor Randy facilitated the opportunity for me to become what we call a LLP, a local licensed pastor.”
To become a local licensed pastor, Spinler spent two years attending licensing school at The Abbey of the Hills in Marvin, South Dakota.
“The process entails reading books and writing papers,” said the 65-year-old Spinler.
Spinler served as the pastor for three years at the Methodist churches in Alden, Minnesota, and Glenville, Minnesota. Then in October 2024, Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Southern Prairie District Superintendent Reverend Woojae Im made a pastoral visit to Spinler’s two congregations. During his visit, the subject of clergy shortage and staffing was discussed.
“He stated that he had two congregations in Southwest Minnesota that were without a pastor. Slayton and Lake Wilson remained open,” said Spinler. “When he shared that information, a heartwarming sensation came over me and the thought went through my head that it would be so cool to be appointed to those two congregations.”
When Spinler approached his wife about the opportunity, she replied yes without hesitation. The couple, who will celebrate 26 years of marriage in August, now live in the parsonage in Slayton.
“People are just so open, friendly and welcoming,” said Spinler, who will have a mandatory retirement when he hits age 72. “We both feel at home and we’re going to stay here.”
While serving the two congregations, Spinler will lead Sunday services in Lake Wilson at 9 a.m. and in Slayton at 10:30 a.m. In addition to that task, Spinler hopes to focus on visiting shut ins, people in the hospital and nursing homes and people that want to speak with a pastor.
“My goal is to visit each and every registered member and family of each church to build relationships with them. Listening to people is a very valuable skillset. People like to be heard, validated and respected,” said Spinler. “As Pastor Randy would say, ‘Give them Jesus and lots of love.’” There are currently 41 registered families in Lake Wilson and 54 families registered in Slayton.
“We, the church, are people of connection and community,” said Spinler. “God has a plan for each and every one of us and things happen for a reason.”
