Update: George and Laura Bush Took Part in Highland Park Vote to Leave the UMC
A spokesman for the former president thanked the Rev. Matt Tuggle for guiding the Dallas congregation, as the church's court fight with its regional conference goes on.
Learn more ›DALLAS —
Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush took part in the congregational vote on whether Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas should leave The United Methodist Church, a spokesman for the former president said, according to The Christian Post. The Christian Post reported the news Friday, Nov. 6, citing a statement given to The New York Times.
“[The Bushes] are grateful to Reverend Matt Tuggle for so faithfully guiding the congregation through these rough waters,” Freddy Ford, Bush's chief of staff, said in the statement. The Bushes, both 80, have been members and frequent attendees of the church since the 1980s, The Christian Post reported. The statement did not quote the former president directly.
See where this is ›In the Oct. 25-26 vote, 90.35 percent of 4,775 ballots favored leaving the denomination. The congregation now worships as Highland Park Methodist Church and aims to finish its separation work by Dec. 1, 2026. Founded in 1916 as University Church, it has more than 5,000 regular attendees and about 15,700 members as of 2025, according to UMC data cited by The Christian Post.
Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. of the UMC Horizon Texas Conference has rejected the vote. He reassigned Tuggle “to other duties” and appointed the Rev. Andy Lewis as Highland Park's pastor, but the church still recognizes Tuggle as its senior minister. About 100 members who remain loyal to the denomination are worshiping temporarily at University Park United Methodist Church, Saenz said.
The conference sued the church in August in Dallas County District Court, saying it “appears to be attempting to unilaterally sever” its ties to the denomination. In September the church filed a response and counterclaim arguing that bylaw changes it made in 2022 are valid under Texas law, and asked the court to dismiss the suit.
What we don't know yet: No court ruling has been reported, and who will finally hold the church property has not been decided. Watchman News did not read The New York Times report directly; the Bushes' role is reported here as The Christian Post relayed it.
