In a resolution late Thursday, Highland Park United Methodist Church accused the regional governing body of the United Methodist Church of deception, ecclesiastical wrongdoing and threatening its clergy.
Louis DeLuca/Staff Photographer
Highland Park United Methodist Church accused the regional governing body of the United Methodist Church of deception, ecclesiastical wrongdoing and threatening its clergy in a strongly worded resolution from its church council late Thursday night.
The council said the conference’s actions have raised questions about its “ecclesiastical and denominational ties” and that for the time being, it no longer recognizes the authority of the bishop.
“In the interim of discussions with the congregation on how best to respond to these events, the Church through its Council no longer recognizes ecclesiastical authority of the bishop and conference to direct the Church or its Clergy,” the resolution said.
Article continues below this ad
In a written statement provided by a spokesperson, the conference said Bishop Ruben Saenz and the Horizon Texas Conference love Highland Park UMC and its people. “Our love and care for generations of United Methodists, past, present and future, are what compel the Conference to act,” the statement said.
The resolution is the latest escalation in what has become a bitter fight between the Horizon Texas Annual Conference and Highland Park UMC, one of the denomination’s largest congregations, over changes the church made years ago to its governing documents.
The conference said that a church council cannot decide for an entire congregation or its clergy that the local church will no longer recognize the authority of the UMC, nor can the church council unilaterally restructure a local church to operate out of the denomination.
“The Conference will continue to respond with integrity, care and grace for the people of Highland Park UMC, whose voice and United Methodist connection deserve to be protected,” the conference’s statement said.
A spokesperson for Highland Park UMC declined to comment further on the resolution.
Article continues below this ad
The Horizon Texas Conference accused Highland Park UMC earlier this month of quietly trying to cut ties with the denomination years ago, when it removed reference to the United Methodist Church, the conference and the Book of Discipline in its governing documents.
The conference has said these changes were made without the knowledge of the congregation or conference, which it said is out of line with the denomination’s procedures. The conference has also accused Highland Park UMC of refusing to cooperate when asked to reverse course.
The church has acknowledged that it changed its corporate documents, but has denied the accusations of misconduct.
In a resolution sent via email to the church congregation late Thursday and posted on the church’s website, the church council said the conference has raised “ecclesiastical and religious concerns.” The council also said the resolution, which was unanimously approved, is not about the merits of the civil lawsuit.
“The conference’s treatment of our congregation, its clergy, and its lay leadership, as well as the manner in which the bishop has conducted this coordinated attack on our Church, raises deeply religious, theological, and moral questions about our ecclesiastical and denominational ties,” the resolution said.
Article continues below this ad
In the UMC, a church council oversees the administration of a local church.
Council alleges threat to clergy pension
The council called the lawsuit and its announcement a “coordinated attack” on Highland Park UMC.
The council said that senior minister Matt Tuggle and another member of the council met with the bishop on Aug. 6. In that meeting, the council said, Tuggle asked the bishop and conference to provide proposed changes to Highland Park UMC’s governing documents. The request was not answered, the resolution said.
The conference has previously said it had not received any proposal for resolution that is consistent with United Methodist rules and procedures.
Article continues below this ad
Highland Park UMC leadership met again with the bishop Aug. 10 but in the hours before, the conference filed its lawsuit without telling the local clergy, the council said.
The conference also told Highland Park UMC’s clergy that their pensions and health care plans could change because of the revisions made to the church’s governing documents.
In its resolution, the church council accused the conference of saying: “‘This is not a threat. It’s just a reality. Your years of service in 2022 will be erased. And there might be some retroactive adjustments to the pension that you’ve built up over the last four years.’”
The conference did not respond to this specific claim in its statement.
The resolution suggested that the church may host town halls on the situation.
Article continues below this ad
Disagreement over events leading up to lawsuit
Over the past week, the conference and the church have made competing claims as to the transparency of the corporate document changes. The Horizon Texas Conference has maintained the changes were made without notification while Highland Park has claimed that it worked with the conference to change its corporate name in 2022.
“In fact the Church publicly filed its amended articles and notified the conference clearly in writing of the corporate name change at the time,” the council resolution said.
The council also alleged that the bishop told Tuggle that he would not recognize a congregation-wide vote if one was taken on the corporate name change “if it did not go his way.”
“It seems now that openness to resolving differences amicably was pretextual and designed to lull the Church and its congregation into a false sense of hope and security,” the resolution said.
Article continues below this ad
In all, the resolution said, the actions of the conference “appear to favor domination over pastoral shepherding and fray the bonds of ecclesiastical connection.”
Earlier this week, former senior minister Paul Rasmussen defended the church and detailed its numerous ministries. The council did the same in its resolution, saying it has launched 41 United Methodist churches over the years, rehabilitated struggling churches and has a free disability ministry for children and adults.
The council also said that it has contributed more than $12 million to the UMC in the past four years.
In its statement, the conference recognized Highland Park UMC’s contributions to the denomination.
“Highland Park is a strong, thriving church with committed Christ followers, faithful United Methodist clergy and more than 100 years of extraordinary ministry,” the statement said.