First United Methodist Church (Midland, TX)

First United Methodist Church in Midland, Texas was founded in 1885 — the first congregation organized in Midland. On November 5, 1977, 31-year-old future President George W. Bush married 31-year-old Laura Welch at this church's Glass Memorial Chapel; the Glass Chapel was completed in 1976, just a year before the wedding. The Bush wedding gives this church its primary national notability. Current senior pastor is Dr. Tim Walker, with Rev. Kurt Borden as associate. Like Highland Park UMC Dallas, First Methodist Midland stayed within the post-2024 United Methodist Church after the conservative Global Methodist Church disaffiliation wave. Per MOOP rubric this is RED at the denominational level given the post-2024 UMC departure from biblical authority on sexual ethics. Included for situational awareness about the wedding site of a former president and first lady.