Highland Park UMC Faces Legal Challenge | Texas News

A major legal showdown erupts as the Horizon Texas Annual Conference sues Highland Park UMC — home to George W. Bush and Laura Bush — accusing it of secretly rewriting its bylaws and changing its official name to sever ties with the United Methodist Church without proper consent. The lawsuit claims these moves, made in 2022-2023, were an illegal attempt to break connectional ties, while the church’s website still proudly displays its UMC identity. With over 15,000 members, this high-profile case could set a precedent for how civil courts handle religious governance disputes — especially as the broader UMC grapples with fallout from recent divisive votes on LGBTQ+ issues. The conference seeks court orders to restore original documents, arguing the issue is purely civil, not theological. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/3c0e4dae8cd41cbd