George W. Bush Backs 90% Vote for Highland Park Church to Leave United Methodist Church
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 6
George W. Bush Backs 90% Vote for Highland Park Church to Leave United Methodist Church
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 6
Summary
George W. Bush and Laura Bush joined Highland Park United Methodist Church’s October vote to quit the denomination, with 4,775 ballots cast and just over 90% supporting departure.
The former president’s first public stance on the dispute backs church leaders in a fight with the United Methodist Church over control of assets and the congregation’s identity.
Highland Park, one of the denomination’s largest and wealthiest congregations, has become a closely watched test case whose conflict is reverberating beyond Dallas and Texas.
With the Bush family backing the split, can a local church's corporate bylaw changes legally override a national denomination's century-old property rules?
As the congregation temporarily relocates this November, will secular courts let Highland Park UMC keep its historic property despite denominational trust clauses?