Southern Methodist University v. South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church

Becket Role:
Amicus
Case Start Date:
December 4, 2019
Deciding Court:
Texas Supreme Court
Original Court:
Dallas County District Court
Practice Area(s):

Case Snapshot

The United Methodist Church founded Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1911 to carry out its religious mission and ensured in SMU’s governing documents that the Church would continue to oversee SMU. For over a century thereafter, the Church played a significant role in SMU’s governance, guiding the University’s direction consistent with its Christian faith. In 2019, however, SMU tried to remove the Church’s authority over the University by unilaterally changing its governing documents. The Church then filed a lawsuit to protect its right to continue overseeing SMU.

Status

On January 2, 2025, Becket filed a friend-of-the-court brief at the Texas Supreme Court in support of the United Methodist Church, urging the court to protect the Church’s freedom to continue operating SMU as it has for over a century.
Sunny view of the Perkins Chapel in Southern Methodist University at Dallas, Texas

Case Summary

A university founded on faith 

The United Methodist Church has a long history of establishing and overseeing institutions of higher education. In 1911, the Church founded SMU to advance this educational mission. From the start, the Church played a hands-on role in overseeing SMU, guiding the University’s leadership and operations consistent with its faith. For over a century, SMU’s governing documents consistently affirmed that SMU would be “forever owned, maintained, and controlled” by the Church. This gave the Church authority over key matters such as trustee appointments and the University’s strategic direction. 

SMU seeks to sever its ties from the Church  

In 2019, SMU attempted to break its longstanding connection with the Church by making changes to its governing documents. The University’s Board of Trustees voted to claim ultimate authority over the University, sidelining the Church’s role as the guiding force behind SMU’s educational mission. These changes were made without the Church’s approval, violating the rights guaranteed in the University’s founding documents. On December 4, 2019, the Church filed a lawsuit to protect its right to continue overseeing SMU and ensure its mission remained aligned with the Church. 

The law protects the Church’s educational mission 

On January 2, 2025, Becket filed a friend-of-the-court brief at the Texas Supreme Court in support of the Church. The brief argues that the Church has the right to govern SMU, as it has for over a century, without interference from the state. It also emphasizes that the law does not allow civil governments to meddle in religious organizations’ decisions about their internal affairs. When the Church founded SMU, it ensured the University would remain under its control, including the right to approve any changes to SMU’s governing documents. Religious institutions have the freedom to decide matters of governance, faith, and doctrine without civil government interference. 


Importance to Religious Liberty: 

Religious Communities: Churches and religious organizations have a right to live, teach, and govern in accordance with the tenets of their faith. When the government unjustly interferes in internal church affairs, the separation of church and state is threatened. The First Amendment ensures a church’s right to self-definition and free association.