George W. Bush sides with Texas megachurch that voted to leave UMC: report
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush have reportedly sided with their longtime Texas church after it recently voted to leave the United Methodist Church amid a legal dispute with the denomination, with a spokesperson saying the couple participated in the vote.
George Bush, 80, and Laura Bush, 80, who have been members and frequent attendees of Highland Park Methodist Church of Dallas since the 1980s, have recently voiced support for lead pastor the Rev. Matt Tuggle.
Highland Park voted overwhelmingly last month to disaffiliate from the UMC while it is in litigation with regional conference over changes to the church’s governing documents.
The UMC Horizon Texas Conference rejected the validity of the vote, with Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. appointing the Rev. Andy Lewis as Highland Park’s new pastor and assigning Tuggle “to other duties.” However, the church continues to recognize Tuggle as its senior minister.
“[The Bushes] are grateful to Reverend Matt Tuggle for so faithfully guiding the congregation through these rough waters,” said Freddy Ford, Bush’s chief of staff, in a statement to The New York Times on Friday.
Ford stated that both George and Laura Bush participated in the congregational vote.
Founded in 1916 as University Church, Highland Park has been one of the largest congregations in the UMC. UMData reports that, as of 2025, the church had more than 5,000 regular attendees and about 15,700 members.
In August, the UMC Horizon Texas Conference sued Highland Park in Dallas County District Court, claiming the church “appears to be attempting to unilaterally sever” its ties to the UMC.
The suit alleged that, in 2022, Highland Park leaders “adopted amended bylaws” that eliminated all references to the UMC and removed “the rights of HP Church members to participate in any matter ‘affecting or involving the Church’” and “the members’ right to participate in determining the denomination of HP Church, including selection of the Church Council, which would be chosen only by itself and answerable only to itself.”
Highland Park filed a formal response and counterclaim in September, arguing that the 2022 changes were valid under Texas law and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
Church leaders also argued that the congregation has continued to participate fully in the UMC since the changes, including paying its annual financial contributions to the conference even after more than 7,500 churches left the Mainline denomination amid a schism over LGBT issues.
Highland Park leaders held a town hall meeting last month about possibly leaving the UMC. Around 800 people attended. At the event, several Church Council members said conference leaders had mistreated the church’s pastors and staff solely because of the bylaw changes.
The church held a vote Oct. 25–26 asking members whether they wanted to disaffiliate from the UMC. The Highland Park Church Council sent a letter on Oct. 26 announcing that, of 4,775 votes cast, 90.35% had voted to leave the denomination.
“Beginning this Sunday, we will worship as Highland Park Methodist Church, with the commitment to protect the mission, ministry, and future of our Church while still honoring our history and past,” the letter said.
“In the coming weeks, we will begin working to operationalize the changes required by this separation, with a goal to have that work completed by December 1, 2026.”
Pastor Lewis and about 100 Highland Park members who remain loyal to the UMC will worship at a different church building for the time being.
“As we navigate the ongoing court proceedings and questions surrounding Highland Park’s governance and property, we will gather for worship at University Park United Methodist Church,” Bishop Saenz said.
“Out of respect for everyone involved, and to avoid unnecessary conflict while these matters are resolved, we will worship there temporarily as we continue caring for one another and moving forward together.”
