{"id":2685924,"date":"2026-10-16T20:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T00:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leaders-of-largest-united-methodist-church-in-the-u-s-vote-to-leave-denomination\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T20:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T00:10:22","slug":"leaders-of-largest-united-methodist-church-in-the-u-s-vote-to-leave-denomination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leaders-of-largest-united-methodist-church-in-the-u-s-vote-to-leave-denomination\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaders of Largest United Methodist Church in the U.S. Vote to Leave Denomination"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fleaders-of-largest-united-methodist-church-in-the-u-s-vote-to-leave-denomination%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2685924&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A notable United Methodist church in Texas, Highland Park Methodist Church, is planning to hold a vote on leaving the denomination amid ongoing disputes. Leaders of the church argue that the church&#8217;s governance is being interfered with by the Horizon Texas Conference, which has filed a lawsuit claiming the church&#8217;s property is held in trust for the denomination. The church council states that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-middle-east-approach-may-empower-rivals-says-former-dni-ratcliffe\/\" title=\"\u2018Biden\u2019s Middle East approach may empower rivals,\u2019 says former DNI Ratcliffe\">recent conflicts<\/a> and changes, such as modifying its name and bylaws to shift more authority to the local church and diminish the conference&#8217;s control, have led to a breakdown of trust. They emphasize that their core mission and theology will remain unchanged nonetheless of the vote outcome. With approximately 15,000 members and meaningful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/can-biden-help-unite-america\/\" title=\"Can Biden Help Unite America?\">annual income<\/a>,Highland Park UMC is known as the largest United Methodist congregation in the U.S. The congregation&#8217;s decision to leave could trigger legal battles over church property, but church leadership asserts that they seek to preserve their self-governance and longstanding mission. The upcoming vote set for October 25-26 will determine whether they exit the denomination, potentially leading to complex legal and organizational consequences.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A major United Methodist church in Texas will soon vote on leaving the denomination after leaders of Highland Park Methodist Church said the time for a split has come.<\/p>\n<p>The Church Council said a lawsuit from the Horizon Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church is nothing more than interference in church governance, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/article\/life\/faith\/highland-park-umc-leaders-vote-leave-united-methodist-church\/287-82a3abb1-fc72-41a5-93c7-fc936c8575ca\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WFAA-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Conference has consistently made it clear that it will no longer honor the governance structure that has been integral to our success as a Church,\u201d a letter from the Church Council said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 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,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n<p>The letter said that the church\u2019s principles and mission will remain the same.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRegardless of the vote\u2019s outcome, none of this will change. Our theology, our commitment to following Jesus Christ, and our mission to help people become deeply devoted followers of Jesus Christ will continue,\u201d the letter said.<\/p>\n<p>Daily Mail journalist MaryAnn Martinez referred to Highland Park as the \u201cwealthiest and most prominent Methodist church in Dallas\u201d in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MaryAnnreports\/status\/2111130810396926127\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The church council says leaving the domination is \u201cthe only way\u201d to preserve self-governance\u2014 something it claims it has been able to do for decades. Now the regional church conference (who is suing HPUMC) won\u2019t let them do.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 MaryAnn Martinez (@MaryAnnreports) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MaryAnnreports\/status\/2111133001815929073?\">October 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The church, which has been <a href=\"https:\/\/religionunplugged.com\/news\/2026\/10\/8\/what-can-we-learn-from-the-100-largest-united-methodist-churches\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">listed<\/a> as the largest United Methodist Church congregation in the country, has about 15,000 members and in 2024 reported it had an annual income of more than $22 million, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dallasnews.com\/news\/faith\/article\/hpumc-council-vote-22479671.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dallas Morning News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The congregation-wide vote on leaving the United Methodist Church will take place Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.<\/p>\n<p>The letter from the council to church members said that its \u201crecommendation on a \u2018Yes\u2019 vote reflects the Council\u2019s determination and conviction that a \u2018Yes\u2019 vote is the only way to preserve our longstanding right to self-governance while protecting our Church\u2019s historic ministry and mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If the church votes to leave, lawsuits are likely because the conference said the church\u2019s property is held in trust with the denomination.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat isn\u2019t a claim of ownership by any bishop or conference,\u201d conference Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. said. \u201cIt\u2019s a promise that what one generation builds remains for mission in the next. None of us owns Highland Park United Methodist Church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Highland Park UMC leadership has asked its congregation to consider the possibility of leaving the United Methodist Church, a decision that could have broad implications in North Texas and beyond.<br \/> https:\/\/t.co\/GtgtQ1GfuD<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Isabella Volmert (@isabellavolmert) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/isabellavolmert\/status\/2110102683784765724?\">October 13, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The church made changes to its structure in 2022 that are now being contested.<\/p>\n<p>In one shift, the church changed its corporate name to \u201cHighland Park Methodist Church.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Changes to church bylaws increased the role of the church council while diminishing that of the conference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s just a reality that stares us in the face,\u201d senior minister Matt Tuggle said in a recent town hall on the issue. \u201cIt now becomes easier to continue to be the church that we are outside of the denomination than inside of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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