The Texas Supreme Court is set to hear arguments regarding Southern Methodist University's (SMU) attempt to separate from the United Methodist Church. Founded in Dallas in the early 20th century by Methodists, SMU has sought to distance itself from the church since 2019 amid significant turmoil within the denomination over issues related to LGBTQ+ clergy and marriage.
The case centers on the control of the university, questioning whether it lies with its own board or the church that established it over a century ago. The outcome will determine if SMU, a prominent institution of Methodism, will maintain its connection to the United Methodist Church, the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States.
In 2019, SMU amended its articles of incorporation to designate its board as the "ultimate authority," effectively displacing the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the church, which oversees congregations in eight states, including Texas. Previously, the university's articles stated that it would be "forever owned, maintained and controlled" by the conference, which had a role in selecting board members, including three United Methodist bishops.
The conference responded by suing SMU, asserting that the university lacked the authority to declare independence without the church's consent. A Texas district judge ruled in favor of the university in 2021, but this decision was later reversed by an appeals court.
SMU was established by Southern Methodists aiming to create a flagship institution west of the Mississippi River. However, the university and the church's conference have had minimal practical interactions in recent years, with conference representatives not involved in hiring decisions and no direct financial contributions from the conference in nearly a decade.
In 2019, SMU's president, R. Gerald Turner, indicated that a formal separation was necessary due to the church's stance on gay rights, which he argued hindered the university's ability to attract a diverse student body. At that time, the denomination had reinforced its bans on same-sex marriages and LGBTQ+ clergy.
Since then, the church's dynamics have shifted significantly. In 2024, the church lifted its ban on LGBTQ+ clergy and officially permitted same-sex marriage. By this time, over a quarter of the denomination's churches had already left due to disagreements on these issues, with some forming the new Global Methodist Church, which maintains traditional views on marriage and ordination.
A university spokeswoman stated that SMU does not comment on ongoing litigation. Despite the lack of a direct financial relationship, church leaders express concern that a separation could undermine the Methodist character that has influenced the university's identity.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, representing the church, argues that allowing SMU to unilaterally separate would contravene the principle of church autonomy and interfere with ecclesiastical governance. William Haun, senior counsel at the Becket Fund, emphasized that the case raises fundamental questions about the governance of religious institutions.
Critics of the separation claim that SMU has not adequately involved the church in its decision-making process. Ted Campbell, a retired elder of the Texas Annual Conference, expressed that church leaders felt disregarded by the university's actions.
Historically, many American universities with religious foundations have eventually severed their ties to their founding denominations. For instance, Vanderbilt University, established by Southern Methodists, declared its independence before SMU was founded, a decision later upheld by the Tennessee Supreme Court, leading church leaders to solidify their connection to SMU in its bylaws.
Over the past century, SMU has grown significantly, now serving 12,000 students with an endowment exceeding $2 billion. Under Dr. Turner's presidency since 1995, the university has achieved notable milestones, including hosting George W. Bush's presidential library and joining the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Recently, the board announced that Jay Hartzell, currently president of the University of Texas at Austin, will become SMU's next president.