The drama around one of the most contentious Methodist church fights in modern history took yet another turn Oct. 29 as the bishop of Horizon Texas Conference removed the senior pastor of Highland Park United Methodist Church and his predecessor.
Meanwhile, the congregation formerly known as Highland Park United Methodist Church — now calling itself Highland Park Methodist Church — plans to gather Sunday as usual at its expansive campus adjacent to Southern Methodist University.
Matt Tuggle
Under leadership of Senior Pastor Matt Tuggle, the prominent North Dallas congregation voted by a 90% margin last weekend to leave The United Methodist Church. Bishop Ruben Saenz says that vote was not legal according to UMC law. He already had sued the church in county court for unilaterally changing its governing documents to grant the church more autonomy from the denomination.
In an open letter to the congregation, Saenz said the remnant of HPUMC will gather Sunday at a nearby Methodist church — University Park UMC — for worship led by their newly appointed pastor, Andy Lewis, who is assistant to the bishop in the conference.
The public statement said Tuggle and his predecessor, Paul Rasmussen, have been appointed by the bishop elsewhere but did not say where. Although it is likely neither Tuggle nor Rassmussen will acknowledge the bishop’s assignment, there has been no official response from them for the church as of yet.
The heart of the lawsuit is that the 110-year-old church cannot leave the denomination and take its property and assets with it. This is a well-established part of UMC polity that has been challenged in courts across the country.
Ruben Saenz
UMC polity includes a “trust clause” that says the denomination holds all church property “in trust” and effectively owns it in the event of a church closure or disaffiliation. In recent years, hundreds of churches have left the UMC —mainly over disagreements about human sexuality — and have paid millions of dollars to the denomination to keep their properties.
The Highland Park Church did not go through the prescribed process for disaffiliation and instead declared its independence. The Church Council previously said it no longer recognizes the authority of the bishop or the denomination.
In his public letter, Saenz said Highland Park United Methodist Church “remains a congregation of The United Methodist Church” and the conference “remains committed to its long-term vision of a vibrant United Methodist church at the corner of Hillcrest and Mockingbird.”
“Many of you voted no,” he said. “Many of you spoke up, met with your pastors and told your church’s leaders, respectfully and clearly, that you disagreed with the direction they were taking. That took courage. You did it out of love for your church and for the covenant that has shaped it for more than a century. I’m deeply grateful for your faithfulness.”
“A congregational vote does not, by itself, sever a local church’s relationship with The United Methodist Church.”
Then he said: “I want to be clear about where things stand. A congregational vote does not, by itself, sever a local church’s relationship with The United Methodist Church. Our Book of Discipline does not authorize a local church to unilaterally leave the denomination, and the temporary process that once allowed churches to disaffiliate ended in 2023. Highland Park United Methodist Church remains a United Methodist congregation and a charge of the Horizon Texas Conference.”
The bishop also explained: “As we navigate the ongoing court proceedings and questions surrounding Highland Park’s governance and property, we will gather for worship at University Park United Methodist Church. Its congregation and leadership have graciously offered us a welcoming place to worship together during this time. Out of respect for everyone involved, and to avoid unnecessary conflict while these matters are resolved, we will worship there temporarily as we continue caring for one another and moving forward together.”
The conference has created a new website for the church in exile.
On Oct. 15, the Horizon Texas Conference filed a Second Amended Petition in Dallas County District Court, seeking a determination that Highland Park United Methodist Church’s 2022 changes to its governing documents were not properly authorized and are therefore invalid. A non-jury trial is currently scheduled for Oct. 12, 2027.
Related:
Highland Park Methodist and the death of denominationalism | Analysis by Mark Wingfield
3 reasons all churches should pay attention to HPUMC right now | Analysis by Mark Wingfield
Dallas megachurch overwhelmingly votes to leave UMC
The nondenominationalizing of American Christianity | Opinion by Bill Leonard