United Methodist conference sues megachurch over changes in governing documents
A regional body of The United Methodist Church (UMC) has sued a megachurch affiliated with the Mainline Protestant denomination over recent changes made to its governing documents.
The UMC Horizon Texas Annual Conference filed a petition for declaratory judgment on Monday in Dallas County District Court against Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC).
The complaint, a copy of which was given to The Christian Post by a conference spokesperson, alleges that HPUMC “appears to be attempting to unilaterally sever” its ties to the denomination.
According to the petition, Highland Park leadership filed a Restated Certificate of Formation in November 2022, changing "the corporation’s name to Highland Park Methodist Church and removed all references to The United Methodist Church, the Conference, and the [UMC Book of Discipline] from its governing documents.”
Around the same time, HPUMC “adopted amended bylaws” that eliminated all references to the UMC and also 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.”
The conference spokesperson directed CP to a web page outlining how the denomination has been in talks with HPUMC since last October to try to remedy the situation.
“The Conference is asking the court to address the civil-law questions involving Highland Park’s governing documents and its longstanding property deed, including which governing documents control the church as a Texas corporation and the legal effect of the deed governing the church property,” stated the web page.
“The Conference is not asking the court to interpret the Book of Discipline or decide matters of United Methodist governance, law or practice. Those matters belong within the Church.”
The conference said it only recently addressed the situation because it was not notified when the changes were made in 2022.
“Once the significance of those changes became clear, [Horizon Conference Bishop Ruben Saenz] began working privately with Highland Park’s leadership to address them,” they stated.
“Having become aware of the issue, he could not disregard his responsibility to uphold the order of the Church and protect the congregation’s United Methodist identity and future.”
A HPUMC spokesperson emailed CP a statement from Highland Park Senior Minister the Rev. Matt Tuggle, who called the lawsuit “meritless.”
“We have been faithful United Methodists and have always supported United Methodist leadership,” stated Tuggle. “For the Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church to file a meritless lawsuit against our church is both bewildering and disappointing.”
“While we continue to engage with the Conference on its allegations, we will remain focused on being who we are as a church – which means ministering to our congregation just as we have over the past 110 years.”
In an email to the congregation obtained by CP, Tuggle said HPUMC leadership was “caught completely off guard by this filing” and “blindsided by this legal action.”
Tuggle promised HPUMC members that he and his staff will “keep you informed and will continue to send updates as soon as we have more to share.”
Founded in 1918, Highland Park is the largest congregation in the Horizon Conference and is the church former President George W. Bush periodically attends.
According to UMData, as of 2024, HPUMC has approximately 15,000 professing members, averages more than 4,000 weekly worship attendees and has a total income of over $22 million.
