Bushes Back Highland Park Church's Exit From UMC
Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush sided with a Dallas congregation that voted overwhelmingly to leave the United Methodist Church.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Christianity
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Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas voted October 25-26, 2026, to disaffiliate from the United Methodist Church, with 90.35% of 4,775 votes favoring departure. Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, both 80 and longtime members since the 1980s, participated in the vote, according to Bush's chief of staff.
Why it matters
The vote follows a 2022 bylaw change that removed references to the UMC and member rights in denominational matters, and the UMC Horizon Texas Conference has rejected the vote's validity. The dispute now sits before a Dallas County court, where the conference sued in August and Highland Park filed a counterclaim in September.
The disaffiliation vote drew 4,775 ballots, with 90.35% supporting departure from a congregation of roughly 15,700 members. The Horizon Texas Conference's rejection of the vote's validity and the pending Dallas County litigation leave the outcome undetermined.
The players
George W. Bush
The 43rd U.S. president, who with his wife Laura has been a member of Highland Park Methodist Church since the 1980s and took part in the disaffiliation vote.
Highland Park United Methodist Church
A Dallas congregation founded in 1916 as University Church, now with about 15,700 members, at the center of the disaffiliation dispute.
UMC Horizon Texas Conference
The regional body of the United Methodist Church that sued Highland Park and rejected the validity of the disaffiliation vote.
The details
Highland Park Church Council announced the results in an October 26 letter, and Freddy Ford, chief of staff to the Bushes, confirmed both former president and Laura Bush took part in the congregational vote. Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. has since appointed the Rev. Andy Lewis as the church's new pastor, while the church plans to complete separation-related operational changes by December 1, 2026.
Timeline
2022: Highland Park adopted amended bylaws removing UMC references.
August 2026: The UMC Horizon Texas Conference sued the church in Dallas County District Court.
September 2026: Highland Park filed its formal response and counterclaim.
October 25-26, 2026: Members voted on leaving the United Methodist Church.
Roadmap
The Highland Park vote continues the departures of roughly 7,500 churches that followed the United Methodist Church's split. It is a notable case because a congregation with a prominent former president among its members has become part of a contested legal fight over local bylaws.
Dallas-area Methodists must now decide which congregation to attend, as Highland Park's leadership and property situation remain tied to the court case. Members who opposed the vote are worshipping temporarily at University Park United Methodist Church while the dispute is resolved.
The takeaway
Congregations weighing denominational exits should understand that bylaw changes and state law can determine outcomes as much as member votes. Readers tracking the dispute can watch the Dallas County docket for rulings on the 2022 bylaw changes.
What happens next
The church plans to complete separation-related operational changes by December 1, 2026, and the Dallas County litigation between the church and the Horizon Texas Conference remains pending.
Further reading
For more on congregational shifts, see Christianity coverage of denominational changes in Dallas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Christian Post.
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