Major Dallas Megachurch Votes to Leave United Methodist Church Over Governance Dispute
A large Dallas megachurch voted in October 2026 to leave the United Methodist Church, citing disagreements over governance and property rights. The departure adds to a wave of congregations that have exited the denomination in recent years over theological and structural conflicts. The UMC has seen hundreds of churches leave since 2022.
A major Dallas megachurch voted in October 2026 to leave the United Methodist Church, citing disputes over governance and property control.
The congregation joins hundreds of churches that have departed the UMC in recent years. The denomination has faced sustained internal conflict over theological differences, particularly regarding LGBTQ inclusion, as well as disagreements about who controls church property when a congregation exits.
The UMC's disaffiliation process, which opened in 2022, has allowed thousands of congregations to leave under negotiated terms. Many departing churches have affiliated with the Global Methodist Church, a theologically conservative denomination formed in 2022.
Church leaders in Dallas did not specify which new denomination, if any, the congregation plans to join. They cited frustration with denominational governance structures and a desire for greater local autonomy.
The United Methodist Church has been working to stabilize its membership and finances following years of departures. Denominational leaders have said they remain committed to the churches and communities that stay within the UMC.
