Southern Methodist University in Dallas tried to declare its independence after the church voted to ban gay weddings and clergy in 2019.

The Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments to decide if SMU's Board of Trustees can alter the university's articles of incorporation with approval from the United Methodist Church. The church sued the university in 2019 after SMU's board of trustees voted to split from the church without approval from the South Central Jurisdictional Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The United Methodist Church managed to anger liberal and conservative Methodists alike after its leaders voted to tighten restrictions on gay clergy and same-sex marriage during a now infamous special session of the 2019 General Conference.