Full Breakdown
Highland Park United Methodist Church Votes to Disaffiliate from the United Methodist Denomination
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Congregational Vote to Leave the United Methodist Church
In late October 2026, members of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas voted on a resolution to sever ties with the United Methodist Church (UMC). Of the 4,775 votes recorded, 90.35 % supported disaffiliation. Roughly one-third of the congregation’s 15,000 members participated. The council announced worship would resume the following Sunday under the name Highland Park Methodist Church and that the separation process would be operationalized with a target completion date of December 1 2026.
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Background & Context
Founded in 1916 as University Church on the Southern Methodist University campus, Highland Park is the largest congregation in the UMC’s Horizon Texas Conference, with weekly attendance exceeding 4,000 and an annual income above $22 million. In 2022 the council amended its charter and bylaws, removing references to the UMC, its conference, and the Book of Discipline. The Horizon Texas Conference sued, alleging breach of contract and invoking the historic “trust clause” that holds church property in trust for the denomination.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
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Data & Statistics
- Votes cast: 4,775
- Vote in favor: 90.35 %
- Participation: ~33 % of members
- Weekly attendance: > 4,000
- Annual income: > $22 million
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Official Statements & Responses
The council’s letter said the decision, though painful, was made after extensive deliberation and would allow the congregation to preserve its mission and history. The Horizon Texas Conference reiterated that a congregational vote alone does not terminate a local church’s covenant relationship with the UMC and urged restoration of the pre-2022 governing documents. Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr. expressed grief, noting that “none of us owns Highland Park United Methodist Church.”
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Criticism & Opposition
About 40 UMC clergy with ties to Highland Park issued a joint letter urging a “no” vote, arguing that legal and ecclesiastical processes should proceed without a premature vote. The conference’s lawsuit contends the 2022 bylaws changes violate the denomination’s covenant.
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Why It Matters
The case highlights tension within the UMC between congregational autonomy and denominational governance. A court ruling in favor of Highland Park could set a precedent for other wealthy congregations seeking to disaffiliate; a ruling favoring the conference would reinforce the trust clause and the authority of the Book of Discipline.
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Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The council asserts the vote “severs all ties” and that the congregation will function as an independent Methodist body. The conference counters that a vote alone does not dissolve the legal relationship and that the property remains held in trust for the denomination. The ultimate legal effect remains unresolved pending litigation.
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Verbatim Quotes
- “Our properties across our church have supported our ministry and mission for generations, and we’re confident that the same properties will continue to serve this mission for years to come,” — Rev. Paul Rasmussen
- “None of us owns Highland Park United Methodist Church,” — Bishop Rubén Saenz
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What’s Next
The council aims to complete the operational steps required for separation by December 1 2026. The lawsuit remains active, with a non-jury trial scheduled for 2027. Both parties continue to file motions and issue public statements as the legal process unfolds.