Bushes Back Highland Park Methodist's Vote to Leave the United Methodist Church in Dallas
DALLAS, Texas — Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas has voted to leave the United Methodist Church, and former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush have publicly supported the decision, it was confirmed on November 6. The Bushes have been members of the church since the 1980s, and Bush chief of staff Freddy Ford told The New York Times on November 6 that the couple took part in the vote and supported disaffiliation.
Founded in 1916, Highland Park Methodist is one of the largest churches in the United Methodist Church, with more than 5,000 regular worshippers and about 15,700 members as of 2025. In voting held October 25-26, 90.35% of 4,775 ballots cast favored leaving the denomination.
The denomination's Horizon Texas Conference rejected the validity of the vote and sued the church in Dallas County court in August, also appointing a new pastor and reassigning senior pastor Matt Tuggle. The church said it will worship under the name Highland Park Methodist Church and plans to complete the adjustments required for disaffiliation by December 1.
Source: The Christian Post
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 高地公园卫理公会教堂（Wikimedia Commons，No restrictions）
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