[REVISION HISTORY]

Highland Park United Methodist Church denominational split

1 recorded revision of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-28 00:03 UTC → 2026-10-29 23:21 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Leaders of the Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) in Dallas, Texas, recommended that their congregation sever all ties with The United Methodist Church (UMC) following a legal dispute with the Horizon Texas Conference. The church council characterized the conference’s lawsuit regarding changes to governing documents as interference that “irrevocably broken the bond of trust.” In late October 2026, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to separate, with 90.35% of the 4,775 participants supporting the decision. The church has begun identifying as Highland Park Methodist Church and aims to finalize the separation by December 1, 2026. ~~The conflict involves ongoing legal disagreements in Dallas County regarding~~ On October 29, 2026, Bishop Rubén Saenz Jr. of the ~~authority~~ Horizon Texas Conference appointed Reverend Andy Lewis as the new senior pastor of HPUMC. As part of this appointment, Saenz removed the ~~church council~~ current senior pastor, Matt Tuggle, and senior pastor emeritus Paul Rasmussen from their denominational roles. The Bishop asserted that the ~~ownership of~~ congregation’s vote does not legally sever its ties to the UMC and that the church ~~property, which~~ remains a recognized congregation. The local church council described the ~~conference asserts is held~~ Bishop’s actions as retaliation. The dispute has resulted in ~~trust for~~ two separate worship paths: members wishing to remain with the ~~entire denomination.~~ denomination will meet with Reverend Lewis at University Park United Methodist Church, while the local council will continue services at the Highland Park facility led by Matt Tuggle. Legal challenges regarding church governing documents and property ownership continue in Dallas County.

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