People vote at the Tolleson Family Activity Center of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026. The vote was to determine on whether to leave the United Methodist Church, its denomination of more than 100 years.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Members of Highland Park United Methodist Church are casting their votes Monday on whether to leave the United Methodist Church, a monumental decision that could have far-reaching implications for the denomination and the North Texas church.
Highland Park UMC held the vote Sunday and Monday following a public dispute with the Horizon Texas Annual Conference, the regional governing body of the United Methodist Church. The dispute started with disagreements over language in the church’s governing documents and has escalated to a lawsuit filed by the conference against the church.
The leadership of Highland Park UMC recommended the church split from the denomination after accusing the conference and the bishop of blindsiding them with what they say is unjust litigation.
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“The Church Council believes the Conference and its bishop have irrevocably broken the bond of trust that once existed between our Church and The United Methodist Church,” the church council said in a letter earlier this month.
The conference and its bishop, Ruben Saenz Jr., have said the United Methodist Church’s governing text does not authorize a local church to unilaterally sever its connection with the denomination.
“We acknowledge that members have very strong feelings about the vote on both sides,” Saenz said Saturday during an online information session hosted by the conference.
Voting concludes Monday at 3 p.m. On Sunday morning, members of the church who voted to leave expressed their concern about the bishop and the litigation, while members who voted to stay said there was a bigger picture to consider.
During Saturday’s online session, Saenz addressed the allegations of misconduct leveled against him in recent weeks.
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“There are things that have been said that I strongly disagree with, but I also recognize that criticism comes with the responsibility of leadership, and I bear that criticism,” he said.
Related: Questions about church future remain as Highland Park UMC poised to vote on departing denomination
What is the disagreement about?
The Horizon Texas Conference sued Highland Park UMC in August, alleging it had quietly tried to cut ties with the denomination in 2022 when it made amendments to certain corporate and internal documents.
The conference accused Highland Park UMC of granting improper power to the church council and removing language that tied the church to the UMC without informing its congregation or properly informing the conference.
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Highland Park UMC has disputed the characterization of the effects and purposes of the changes it made to internal and corporate documents.
In the weeks after the lawsuit was filed, Highland Park UMC said it never wanted to leave the denomination. The church’s leaders are now saying they lack trust in the United Methodist Church and want to govern Highland Park UMC’s affairs at a local level.
The church leadership has said the conference did not adequately communicate with Highland Park UMC before the lawsuit was filed. The conference disputes this, saying they made good-faith efforts to resolve the disagreements.
The conference said Saturday it met with the church in October 2025, December and March.
The Rev. Sam Hamann, conference chancellor and legal adviser to the conference, said attorneys representing Highland Park UMC and the Horizon Texas conference worked together to develop a draft of the governing documents for consideration before the lawsuit was filed. But the Highland Park UMC council “summarily rejected those negotiated documents and refused to consider any further changes,” he said.
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In response to Hamann’s remarks, a spokesperson for Highland Park UMC said, “That contention is wholly inaccurate and we’re confident that will be made clear in future legal proceedings.”
Related: Permanent injunction sought against Highland Park UMC, court filing says
People vote at the Tolleson Family Activity Center of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026. The vote was to determine on whether to leave the United Methodist Church, its denomination of more than 100 years.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Church members cast vote
Before and after Sunday morning worship services, dozens of Highland Park UMC members cast their votes.
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James Pepper, a 26-year member of Highland Park UMC, said he voted to leave because he is displeased the conference is suing the church, and he believes the bishop will not negotiate. He said he was also displeased with other lawsuits across the country involving the UMC and local churches that want to separate.
“It’s time to cut ties,” he said, speaking outside of the church. “They’re not the United Methodist Church anymore.”
Andrew Vanek, 23, said the issue kept him up thinking until 1 a.m. recently. He disagrees with how the bishop has handled the situation, and he said he appreciates how Highland Park UMC operates as a “centrist church” where people of different views attend.
Ultimately, he wanted to see the church maintain its tradition, and he voted against splitting.
“General ecumenism is more important,” he said after casting his vote.
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Henry Varma, a member for 10 years, voted against leaving. He thought the lawsuit was drastic but thought a resolution could be reached.
“I don’t know if making that serious of a change is necessary,” he said.
Windy Koehler said she joined Highland Park UMC because of the Rev. Matt Tuggle, the church’s senior minister. She said his teaching is sound, and she voted to leave.
“I trust our pastors, I trust our lay people,” she said. “I don’t feel comfortable with what the bishop is doing.”
Carol and Toby Toler, members of Highland Park UMC since 2010, contemplated the question for weeks, attending Highland Park UMC town halls and listening to an information session by the conference Saturday.
The two voted to leave in what Carol said was a “really hard decision.” She grew up in the United Methodist Church and worried the North Texas church could change, but said the bishop does not appear to be willing to listen to Highland Park UMC’s leadership.
“We think it’s time to leave,” she said. “We think the bishop leaves us no choice.”
Carol said people who disagree with Highland Park UMC’s leadership have been criticizing the church for living in a so-called bubble in the Park Cities. Carol disputed this characterization, saying the Tolers live in Lake Highlands, and their Sunday school class has members from Allen, Lewisville and Irving.
Related: Highland Park UMC council recommends leaving United Methodist Church
Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, Sunday, October 25, 2026. The church is voting on whether to leave the United Methodist Church, its denomination of more than 100 years.
Anja Schlein/The Dallas Morning News
Conference says vote is not valid
Highland Park UMC has said the conference has not made an offer of mediation. Meanwhile, the bishop said Saturday the conference has received no request from Highland Park UMC to discuss resolution.
It’s unclear exactly what would happen if the church votes to leave.
Saenz has said he was left with no choice but to pursue legal action through civil courts, saying he has a responsibility to “uphold that covenant” that connects local churches with the broader denomination.
He responded to further criticism of his leadership, saying, “What I cannot do is allow it to distract me from the responsibilities I am entrusted to fulfill as a bishop of the United Methodist Church.”
The Rev. Andy Lewis, chief of staff to the bishop and the conference, said Saturday it is true Highland Park UMC alerted the conference to changes it made to its articles of incorporation with the state of Texas in 2023. He said the conference did not realize the “scope of the changes” until October 2025, when it became aware of the church’s changes to its internal bylaws.
“Restoring the governing documents is not about changing the mission of Highland Park,” Saenz said. “It is about honoring the promises and the relationships that we have built and helped sustain that mission for generations.”