HP Pres was first established in 1926, with 290 members. The very first service was on April 11, 1926. By January 1927, Dr. W.A. Alexander of
Mobile, Alabama became the first pastor. Additionally, Dr. Arthur V. Boand became the first associate minister in 1950 and Dr. Edward A. Mohns became the second associate pastor in 1954. Dunagan was senior pastor until October 26, 2023 when he died at the age of 44. From November 2023 to November 2025, Executive Pastor Rev. Jay Lee became the acting head of staff.On November 9, 2025, Rev. Dr. Thomas Daniel preached his first sermon as the next Senior Pastor.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4rJ6NAOVtE
Disputes with and Withdrawal from PC(USA) In May 1991 HP Pres held a vote to withdraw from PC(USA). Although a simple majority voted in favor of withdrawal (2,563 voting to withdraw and 2,001 voting against), a 2/3 majority was required to withdraw, and thus (at that time) HP Pres remained within PC(USA). (A dissident group left HPPC and ultimately formed what is now
Park Cities Presbyterian Church.) The issue of withdrawal came up again in 2013; this time, the withdrawal motion passed with 89 percent approval, with a similar majority voting to affiliate with ECO. As of 2014, however, HP Pres has sought and obtained a
temporary injunction against Grace Presbytery (the presbytery having oversight for all PC(USA) churches in Dallas County), prohibiting them from establishing an "administrative commission" over HP Pres.
Settlement and Dismissal from PC(USA) On September 9, 2014, an announcement was made that Highland Park Presbyterian Church will pay $7.8 million to Grace Presbytery in order to obtain both a release of its obligations under the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s trust clause and ecclesiastical dismissal from the denomination. The
settlement agreement – which also includes an agreement between Highland Park and Grace Presbytery to send a joint letter to the members of Highland Park allowing them the opportunity to choose whether they wish to remain affiliated with the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – will resolve the pending lawsuit between Grace Presbytery and Highland Park. The lawsuit involved a dispute between Highland Park and Grace Presbytery over whether the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s trust clause, which Highland Park agreed to abide by, is legally enforceable under Texas law. Ultimately, three experts in Texas trust law retained by Grace Presbytery agreed that Highland Park’s agreement to hold its property in trust for the use and benefit of the denomination was enforceable under neutral principles of Texas law. In an attempt to privately resolve their disagreement before trial, Highland Park and Grace Presbytery entered into a mediation process presided over by former federal Judge Jeff Kaplan on February 21 and August 25, 2014. Judge Kaplan worked to bring the parties to an agreement to resolve the case. The parties reached an agreement in principle at mediation, which obtained final approval of the parties on September 8, 2014. The $7.8 million settlement figure represents 26% of Highland Park’s “approximately thirty million dollars” of property, as alleged in Paragraph 18 of Highland Park’s amended petition filed in the lawsuit. == Family of Churches ==