United Methodist Church Bishop appoints new pastor at Highland Park

Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr. of the Horizon Texas Conference has appointed Reverend Andy Lewis as the new senior pastor of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. This decision follows a recent vote in which 90.35% of participating members supported leaving the denomination.

As part of the appointment, Saenz removed the current senior pastor, Matt Tuggle, and senior pastor emeritus Paul Rasmussen from their denominational roles. The Bishop maintains that the congregation's vote does not legally sever its ties to the United Methodist Church, asserting that Highland Park remains a recognized congregation of the denomination.

In response, the local church council described the move as retaliation and stated that the trust between the church and the denomination has been broken. The council intends to proceed with its plan to complete the separation by December 1.

Currently, two separate worship paths have emerged: members wishing to remain with the denomination will meet with Reverend Lewis at University Park United Methodist Church, while the local council will continue regular services at the Highland Park facility led by Matt Tuggle. The dispute also involves ongoing legal challenges in Dallas County regarding church governing documents and property trust rules.