Southern Methodist University

===Split from the United Methodist Church===
In light of the turmoil within the Methodist Church over what it described as "[[United Methodist Church#2020–2022 potential schisms|fundamental differences]]" over LGBTQ policies, the university decided to separate itself from control of the church.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grigsby |first1=Sharon |title=What SMU's plan to split from Methodist control could mean for Dallas churches angry about LGBTQ policies |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/commentary/2019/12/11/what-smus-plan-to-bolt-from-methodist-control-could-mean-for-dallas-churches-angry-about-lgbtq-policies/ |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=11 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423075954/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/commentary/2019/12/11/what-smus-plan-to-bolt-from-methodist-control-could-mean-for-dallas-churches-angry-about-lgbtq-policies/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In November 2019, the SMU board filed with the state of Texas amended articles of incorporation that eliminated the [http://www.scjumc.org/ United Methodist Church]'s rights as listed in the 1996 articles. The amendment made it clear that SMU is solely maintained and controlled by its Board as the ultimate authority for the university and removed an overarching statement that the school would be "owned, maintained and controlled by the South Central Jurisdictional Conference."<ref>{{cite press release |last1=Turner |first1=R. Gerald |title=Statement from President Turner regarding our relationship with UMC |url=https://www.smu.edu/News/2019/Statement-from-President-Turner-regarding-our-relationship-with-the-United-Methodist-Church |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=SMU |date=December 6, 2019 |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613141450/https://www.smu.edu/News/2019/Statement-from-President-Turner-regarding-our-relationship-with-the-United-Methodist-Church |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="church_lawsuit"/> Within a month, the Church filed a [https://www.insidehighered.com/sites/default/server_files/media/smu_lawsuit.pdf lawsuit] alleging that the trustees of SMU have no authority to amend the Articles of Incorporation without the prior approval and authorization of SCJC.<ref name="church_lawsuit">{{cite news |last1=Brumfield |first1=Loyd |last2=Smith |first2=LaVendrick |title=Methodist conference sues SMU over university's steps to redefine its relationship with the church |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2019/12/08/methodist-conference-sues-smu-over-universitys-steps-to-redefine-its-relationship-with-the-church/ |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=8 December 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427151339/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2019/12/08/methodist-conference-sues-smu-over-universitys-steps-to-redefine-its-relationship-with-the-church/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Elizabeth |title=SMU sued for amending governance documents to separate itself from church authority |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/12/09/smu-sued-amending-governance-documents-separate-itself-church-authority |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=December 9, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426202905/https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/12/09/smu-sued-amending-governance-documents-separate-itself-church-authority |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2021, Dallas County judge ruled in favor of Southern Methodist University in the lawsuit.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hodges |first1=Sam |title=Judge rules for SMU over jurisdiction |url=https://www.umnews.org/en/news/judge-rules-for-smu-over-church-conference |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=United Methodist News Service |date=March 23, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421193928/https://www.umnews.org/en/news/judge-rules-for-smu-over-church-conference |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Elizabeth |title=Judge Sides With University in Dispute With Methodist Church |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/03/25/judge-sides-university-dispute-methodist-church |access-date=18 April 2021 |work=[[Inside Higher Ed]] |date=March 25, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=February 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216021306/https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/03/25/judge-sides-university-dispute-methodist-church |url-status=live }}</ref>