New Senior Minister Matt Tuggle is committed to continuing Highland Park United Methodist Church’s more than century-old tradition of community service.
Tuggle recently replaced Rev. Paul Rasmussen, who transitioned to an emeritus role in February after serving as senior minister for more than a decade.
“Paul was very intentional about giving me opportunities to lead and opportunities to preach,” Tuggle said. “One of the things I hope to continue to do is to give the next generation of leaders opportunities to preach and to lead.”
Tuggle may be new to his role, but he is a familiar face to SMU neighbors and the HPUMC congregation. In preparation for his career in ministry, Tuggle attended SMU’s Perkins School of Theology, near where his future wife, Amy, lived, and interned at HPUMC.
“That’s when I got to know a lot of our staff, and our pastors, and a lot of members of our congregation,” he said. “I think this church really maintains a strong focus on Jesus’ command to love God and love people. I think this is a place where people can grow in their personal relationship with Jesus and be actively involved in service to the community.”
Tuggle and his wife moved to Georgia after he graduated from seminary, then returned to HPUMC. Tuggle worked in the church’s youth ministry, which later evolved into a family ministry, before leading a small service at Cox Chapel.
Most recently, Tuggle led Cornerstone, the church’s contemporary worship ministry. He also serves on the executive board of the SMU Perkins School of Theology.
As senior minister at HPUMC, Tuggle will seek to continue Rasmussen’s efforts to grow the Belong Disability Ministry, which offered 1,981 hours of programming for individuals with disabilities on the HPUMC campus in 2025.
Tuggle is overseeing major investments in the church, its future leaders, and the Dallas community through HPUMC’s Project Mockingbird, which began with a capital campaign that raised more than $46 million.
The project is funding improvements that include expansions and renovations at Wesley Hall, Chance’s Cafe (which provides job training for people with disabilities), and the Kids Ministry spaces on the second floor.
It is also financing initiatives that support future leaders and joining with local partners to assist underserved communities. Tuggle said the church is working with Austin Street Center, St. Philip’s School, and Forge Now in particular as part of Project Mockingbird.
“The vision is to see our church and our city thrive by investing in churches, leaders, and these nonprofits that are fighting poverty in the city of Dallas,” Tuggle said. “I’m not casting any new vision. We’re going to continue the momentum of Project Mockingbird in the next three to five years to bless our city.”
Tuggle also said he is dedicated to ensuring HPUMC remains a welcoming congregation.
“People drive by our church, and it’s big, and it’s beautiful and all those things, and they think, ‘I don’t know that I would feel welcome in a place like that,’” he said. “And then they come in, and they feel like they’re at home.”
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