Texas Megachurch Considers Leaving UMC Amid Legal Dispute Over Governing Document Changes

Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) in Dallas held a town hall meeting on Sunday, October 11, 2026, to discuss the possibility of leaving the United Methodist Church (UMC). The gathering, which drew about 800 attendees, came amid an ongoing legal battle with the UMC’s Horizon Texas Conference over changes made to the church’s governing documents.

Caroline Nowlin, chair of the HPUMC Church Council and a long-time member, opened the meeting by posing a central question: “Knowing what we know now, should our church remain part of The United Methodist Church?” Nowlin emphasized that the decision would not be made by the church council alone, but rather through a congregational vote if the council recommends leaving the denomination.

Nowlin clarified that leaving the UMC would be a congregational decision, not a church council decision. “Your vote will determine our church’s future,” she said, underscoring the importance of member participation in the process.

David McAtee, another church council member who moderated the town hall, outlined the core issues at stake. He noted that the dispute centers on two main points: “the say that we have in selecting our clergy” and “whether this church has the right to leave the denomination if the membership votes to do so.”

Several church council members spoke about the legal situation and what they described as the conference’s treatment of Highland Park. The agenda also included time for questions from attendees, though that portion was not livestreamed to protect individuals’ privacy.

Founded in 1916 as University Church, HPUMC is the largest congregation in the Horizon Texas Conference. Former President George W. Bush has periodically attended services at the church. According to UMData, as of 2024, HPUMC had about 15,000 professing members, an average weekly worship attendance of more than 4,000, and total income of more than $22 million.

In August, the Horizon Texas Conference sued HPUMC in Dallas County District Court, alleging that the church “appears to be attempting to unilaterally sever” its ties to the denomination. The lawsuit cited the church leaders’ filing of a Restated Certificate of Formation in November 2022, which updated the church’s founding corporate charter under Texas law. The filing changed the church’s structure and governance, which the conference claims violates UMC policy.

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