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Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., bishop of the North Texas Conference, during a special called session at the United Methodist Church in Plano on Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023.<\/p>\n
Lola Gomez\/Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr., who leads the Horizon Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church<\/a>, addressed Highland Park United Methodist Church\u2019s congregation in a video message<\/a> Wednesday, saying the conference and the congregation are not adversaries as the legal dispute with the church proceeds.\u00a0<\/p>\n The conference sued Highland Park UMC<\/a> earlier this month, alleging the church tried to quietly cut ties with the denomination about four years ago when it made changes to its governing documents. The relationship between Highland Park\u00a0UMC\u2019s leadership and the conference has become increasingly strained<\/a> in recent weeks as the two sides have offered differing accounts<\/a> of what happened. \u00a0<\/p>\n In his video message, Saenz said he has grieved over what has unfolded in recent weeks. The video comes on the same day Highland Park\u00a0UMC is hosting a private town hall for its congregants to discuss the situation. \u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not making this video as your adversary,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Highland Park UMC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the message.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2022, public records with the Texas Secretary of State show Highland Park\u00a0UMC removed references to the United Methodist Church, the conference and the Book of Discipline, the UMC’s governing text, in its articles of incorporation. It changed its official name to Highland Park Methodist Church and kept its \u201cdoing business as\u201d name Highland Park United Methodist Church.\u00a0<\/p>\n The conference filed copies of the church\u2019s bylaws in court records last week, which show similar amendments.<\/p>\n Saenz said the changes shifted \u201csignificant authority\u201d to the church\u2019s council and changed how decisions about the church would be made. Saenz said he didn\u2019t take the decision to pursue legal action lightly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cNone of us owns Highland Park United Methodist Church,\u201d Saenz said. \u201cJesus Christ is the head of the church. Not the bishop, not the senior pastor, not the church council.\u201d<\/p>\n The conference has said these changes were made without the knowledge of the congregation or conference, which it said is out of line with the denomination\u2019s procedures. The conference has said it was prompted to file the lawsuit after finding out about the changes in the fall of last year and Highland Park\u00a0UMC refused to reverse course.\u00a0<\/p>\n In his message, Saenz said the governing documents matter because it’s an issue of accountability and transparency.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt requires safeguards that protect the voice of the congregation when decisions of great consequence are being made about the future of the church,\u201d Saenz said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Contentious statements offer different accounts<\/p>\n Last week, the church council of Highland Park UMC approved a resolution that challenged the bishop\u2019s authority<\/a>. It accused the conference of ecclesiastical wrongdoing and threatening its clergy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n