Highland Park United Methodist Church Schedules Vote to Exit Denomination
Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, announced on October 16 that its congregation‑wide vote on leaving the United Methodist denomination will be held on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.
The vote matters because the church, with about 15,000 members and a 2024 annual income of more than $22 million, is the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States, and its decision could influence how other high‑profile churches navigate denominational disputes.
In a letter to members, the church council described a lawsuit from the Horizon Texas Conference as “nothing more than interference in church governance” and quoted the conference’s repeated refusal to honor the governance structure that the council says has been integral to its success. The letter added that the council believes the conference and its bishop have “irrevocably broken the bond of trust” that once existed between the church and the United Methodist denomination.
Despite the impending split, the council emphasized that the church’s theology and mission will remain unchanged. The letter affirmed, “Regardless of the vote’s outcome, none of this will change. Our theology, our commitment to following Jesus Christ, and our mission to help people become deeply devoted followers of Jesus Christ will continue.”
Legal experts note that if the congregation votes to leave, lawsuits are likely because the conference claims the church’s property is held in trust for the denomination. Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. responded, “That isn’t a claim of ownership by any bishop or conference. It’s a promise that what one generation builds remains for mission in the next. None of us owns Highland Park United Methodist Church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church.”
The dispute traces back to structural changes made in 2022, when the church altered its corporate name to “Highland Park Methodist Church” and revised bylaws to increase the council’s role while diminishing the conference’s influence. Senior minister Matt Tuggle told a town‑hall meeting, “It’s just a reality that stares us in the face… it now becomes easier to continue to be the church that we are outside of the denomination than inside of it.”
The council’s recommendation is a “Yes” vote, arguing that exiting the denomination is the only way to preserve long‑standing self‑governance while protecting the church’s historic ministry and mission. The vote’s results, expected shortly after the October 26 ballot, will determine whether Highland Park United Methodist Church formally separates from the United Methodist Church and will likely shape future legal and governance battles across the denomination.
