Overview

• The Texas Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision affirmed that the South Central Jurisdictional Conference can pursue breach-of-contract claims over SMU’s 2019 charter amendments.
• Justices ruled on procedural standing rather than on whether SMU lawfully separated from the church.
• SMU’s board of trustees removed references to its founding denomination in 2019 and declared sole governance authority after the United Methodist Church tightened bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex weddings.
• The conference contends that its founding gift and the 1996 articles gave it veto rights over amendments, making SMU’s unilateral changes a contractual breach.
• With standing confirmed, the case now returns to trial court where detailed arguments on the amendments’ legality and their impact will be heard.