SMU’s Ties to Church Favored by Texas Justices Over Autonomy

Southern Methodist University may not be able to separate itself from the United Methodist Church, nearly six years after the two organizations became divided on the issue of same-sex marriage, as the Texas Supreme Court appeared to favor leaving untouched the church’s authority over the university.

Before a crammed courtroom Wednesday, Justice Evan Young suggested that courts aren’t to interfere with a religious organization’s clerical activities, favoring the validity of the United Methodist Church’s longstanding relationship with SMU.

“Why isn’t that enough to say we have to rule for the church?” Young said.

Voicing concern with SMU’s exit strategy, Chief ...