Highland Park United Methodist Church Votes to Leave Denomination

Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, has voted to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. In a congregational vote held October 25-26, 90.35% of the 4,775 ballots cast favored leaving the denomination. Church leadership stated the decision was made to preserve the congregation's historic autonomy and protect its ability to select clergy, noting that the church has operated for 110 years. The church plans to transition to the name Highland Park Methodist Church by December 1, 2026.

Church officials acknowledged that the vote follows ongoing litigation between the congregation and the regional Horizon Texas Conference regarding internal governance documents. In response to the vote, the Horizon Texas Conference stated that a congregational ballot does not unilaterally sever a local church's relationship with the denomination. Representatives for the conference indicated that the vote will not automatically resolve the existing legal dispute. Highland Park, which counts former President George W. Bush among its attendees, remains the largest congregation within the regional conference.