Texas Megachurch Votes to Leave UMC—Bishop Names New Pastor, but Congregation Refuses Leadership Change

An overwhelming vote to leave the United Methodist Church has deepened a leadership and property dispute at one of its largest congregations, with Highland Park's council rejecting a bishop's appointment of a replacement pastor.

According to The Christian Post, Horizon Texas Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. announced October 29 that the Rev. Andy Lewis would become pastor of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas. Saenz reassigned the congregation's current senior minister, the Rev. Matt Tuggle, "to other duties."

But the congregation, now calling itself Highland Park Methodist Church, says Tuggle will remain in its pulpit. Its Church Council described the bishop's intervention as a "retaliatory move" and announced that Sunday worship would proceed with its existing clergy.

The result is a sharply divided understanding of who has authority to lead the church-and what its recent departure vote actually changes.

A Decisive Vote, but No Agreed Separation

Highland Park announced that 90.35% of 4,775 votes cast supported leaving the denomination. Church leaders said they would begin implementing the separation, aiming to complete that work by December 1.

Saenz, however, rejected the vote as illegitimate. Rather than attempt to bring Lewis into the disputed Highland Park property immediately, the bishop announced that Lewis and members wishing to remain United Methodist would temporarily worship at nearby University Park United Methodist Church.

Saenz said the arrangement was intended to avoid unnecessary conflict while court proceedings and questions about governance and property continued.

Highland Park's council offered a different assessment: the congregation had expressed its wishes clearly, and the bishop's announcement would not alter its plans.

The Dispute Began Before the Departure Vote

The confrontation centres on governance changes made years before this week's announcement.

In August, the Horizon Texas Conference sued Highland Park over revisions to its corporate and governing documents in 2022. The conference alleged that amended bylaws removed references to the UMC and stripped members of important participation rights, including influence over denominational affiliation and the selection of the Church Council.

Those allegations place the council's own authority under scrutiny, even as it points to the congregation's departure vote as evidence of broad support.

Highland Park disputes the conference's account. In its response and counterclaim, the church argued that the changes were valid under Texas law and sought dismissal of the lawsuit. Its leaders also maintained that the congregation had continued participating in denominational life, including making its annual financial contributions.

The disagreement therefore extends beyond whether members want to leave. It concerns the authority under which church leaders acted before the vote and the consequences of those decisions.

Church Leaders Challenge the Conference's Timing

Tuggle and two former senior ministers have accused the conference of abruptly challenging arrangements it previously knew about.

They say Highland Park's council structure was ratified in 1998 with conference knowledge. They also contend that conference officials knew about the 2022 revisions by January 2023 and helped enact them, yet did not raise concerns until October 2025.

The conference's lawsuit presents a competing account, alleging that the changes appeared designed to sever denominational ties unilaterally.

These remain disputed positions in ongoing litigation. The congregation's vote demonstrates substantial support for departure among those who voted; it does not, by itself, establish how the property and governance questions will be resolved.

Two Sunday Gatherings, One Unresolved Conflict

For Sunday, November 1, the immediate plans reveal the depth of the split: Tuggle is expected to preach at Highland Park, while Lewis and United Methodist loyalists have been invited to worship at University Park.

Highland Park reported approximately 15,000 members in 2024, average weekly worship attendance exceeding 4,000 and annual income above $22 million, according to denominational statistics cited by The Christian Post.

For a congregation of that scale, the uncertainty reaches well beyond a name change. Members now face competing leadership claims while the church and conference continue their battle over governance, denominational affiliation and property.