Southern Methodist University made a bold decision in 2019: it chose to govern itself independently from the United Methodist Church (UMC) after the church reaffirmed its bans on LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage.

Now the UMC is suing to regain control—and the Texas Supreme Court just ruled that the lawsuit can proceed.

This is about more than legal technicalities. SMU is a modern, inclusive institution that affirms LGBTQ students and faculty and has publicly stated it does not discriminate based on sexual orientation. Allowing the UMC to override the university’s governance would jeopardize that commitment and force a diverse academic community under the control of a religious body that, until very recently, upheld discriminatory policies.

We call on the SMU Board of Trustees to continue defending the university’s right to self-governance and to reject any legal settlement that would return SMU to UMC control. We also urge state and community leaders to support SMU’s independence and its inclusive values.

If you believe schools should be free to govern without religious interference—and that LGBTQ students and staff deserve safety and respect—sign this petition to stand with SMU.