Highland Park United Methodist Church leaders urge vote to leave denomination

Leaders of the Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) in Dallas, Texas, have unanimously voted to recommend that their congregation sever all ties and affiliations with The United Methodist Church (UMC). The church, which is among the largest congregations in the denomination with approximately 15,000 members, has scheduled a congregation-wide vote on the matter for October 25 and 26, 2026.

The move follows a legal dispute with the UMC’s Horizon Texas Conference, which filed a lawsuit regarding changes made to the church’s governing documents and bylaws. The HPUMC Church Council characterized the lawsuit as interference in church governance and stated that the Conference has “irrevocably broken the bond of trust.”

While the legal battle over corporate amendments continues in Dallas County District Court, the Church Council maintains that the upcoming vote is a separate decision regarding denominational affiliation. The council emphasized that the church intends to preserve its historic ministry, Wesleyan Methodist theological traditions, and mission regardless of the outcome.