Highland Park UMC pastor compares standoff with regional conference to Cain and Abel
'It's interesting that the first violence in the Bible is between two brothers'
A regional body of the United Methodist Church and Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) in Dallas continued their public disagreement this week over changes to the megachurch’s governing documents, with both sides issuing statements defending their positions in the ongoing civil lawsuit.
On Aug. 10, the Horizon Texas Conference filed suit in Dallas County District Court seeking court clarification on questions involving the church’s governing documents and a longstanding property deed. The conference said the action followed months of unsuccessful efforts to resolve the matter directly with HPUMC leadership.
In a statement updated Aug. 19 on the conference website, Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. described the situation as "a challenging and important moment for Highland Park United Methodist Church, the Horizon Texas Conference and all who care about the congregation, The United Methodist Church and the broader Wesleyan movement."
"In moments of consequential disagreement, we are called to treat one another with honesty, humility, care and grace," Saenz said. "The Conference’s responsibility is to act with integrity, uphold the order of The United Methodist Church and protect the sacred trust of a congregation built by generations of faithful United Methodists. We remain committed to seeking a faithful path toward restoration and resolution."
The conference maintains that HPUMC remains a United Methodist congregation within the Horizon Texas Conference, and alleged the Church Council changed the articles and bylaws in 2022 and early 2023 without the knowledge of the congregation or the conference and without approval through a properly called charge conference, as required by the UMC Book of Discipline.
Those changes, according to the conference, removed longstanding references to The United Methodist Church, the conference and the Book of Discipline.
Still, the conference emphasized its goal is restoration: “The Conference is acting to protect the congregation, Highland Park UMC’s United Methodist identity and the sacred trust of the church for current and future generations. A faithful path to resolution remains available.”
HPUMC, one of the largest congregations in the conference with more than 16,000 members, has rejected the conference’s characterization of the changes and the lawsuit. The Rev. Paul Rasmussen, the former longtime senior minister of the church who retired in February and now serves as minister-in-residence, released a statement on Aug. 19 likening the dispute to the biblical — and ultimately fatal — clash between Cain and Abel.
The Rev. Matt Tuggle, the church's current senior minister, also addressed the case in a video message to the congregation the evening of Aug 12, saying clergy and staff were "taken entirely by surprise" and "caught completely off guard" by the lawsuit.
"We have been faithful United Methodists and have always supported United Methodist leadership," Tuggle said in his statement reported by Park Cities People and The Christian Post. "For the Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church to file a meritless lawsuit against our church is both bewildering and disappointing."
Rasmussen added in his statement, also reported by UM News, that “Jesus warned his followers that ‘in this world you will have trouble’ [in] John 16:33.”
“He stopped short of pointing out, though, that the trouble and pain often come from the people you love the most. Family. Friends. Brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s interesting that the first violence in the Bible is between two brothers,” Rasmussen wrote.
Noting that “conflict among family is severe and often irreparable,” Rasmussen called Horizon Texas’ lawsuit “among the more unnecessary and egregious betrayals of a loyal ministry partnership I’ve witnessed in 26 years as a United Methodist pastor.”
Rasmussen said the statement was not about the claims in the lawsuit, which he called "outrageous and false." Instead, he added, "lay leaders and lawyers will address those corporate issues in due course, in the capable hands of the courts."
His letter also highlighted the church's longstanding support for the United Methodist Church over its 110-year history. "Since our inception, every member of our congregation has been received as a United Methodist. Today, we have more than 16,000 members. Every child confirmed as a youth in our church has been confirmed as a United Methodist — through United Methodist liturgy. Every child baptized in an HPUMC worship service has been welcomed into our responsibility as a congregation as a United Methodist — through United Methodist liturgy. When we sing, we use United Methodist hymnals."
He noted that from 2019 to 2023, more than 7,600 churches nationwide left the UMC under a now-expired denominational disaffiliation policy, but Highland Park stayed. According to Rasmussen, HPUMC has launched 41 United Methodist churches, operates the largest UMC youth confirmation program in the conference, supported Africa University, and runs a Belong Disability Ministry available free to all Horizon Texas Conference churches.
Since 2022, Rasmussen wrote, HPUMC has contributed to numerous United Methodist charities and provided more than $5.5 million in apportionments plus over $6.2 million to UMC-related organizations. It has also helped revitalize struggling congregations, returning one to the conference as a gift, and, he said, HPUMC never missed an apportionment payment.
"These acts reflect a deep dedication to the United Methodist Church and our peer institutions in connection,” he added. “This is what connectionism is all about. From theological practice to connectional support, HPUMC has set the standard for 110 years. To say otherwise is lunacy.
"May God bless our Church as we face the days ahead,” he concluded.
The case remains pending in Dallas County District Court.
Ian M. Giatti is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ian.giatti@christianpost.com.
