“Go Ahead and Bring Me Up on Charges—The Rocks Will Sing Out”: Organizational Structure, Ally Activism, and the Struggle for Marriage Equality in the UMC

After decades of struggle, the United Methodist Church (UMC) removed all LGBTQ‐restrictive language from its Book of Discipline in 2024, overturning exclusionary policies that forbid same‐sex weddings and the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy. This research sheds light on the activism that preceded institutional change within the UMC. Specifically, we examine the influence of organizational location on internal, ally activism that defied UMC bans against same‐sex marriage prior to 2024. Qualitative, inductive analysis of 114 semi‐structured interviews conducted in 2022 with progressive United Methodists in the United States reveals how one's position within an organization shapes the strategies used to effect change. Not only do laity and clergy employ different tactics, but analysis reveals how jurisdictional location influences the strategies and responses of clergy who may choose to officiate same‐sex weddings in violation of church rules. This research highlights how straight allies operated as insider activists at all levels of the denomination to push the envelope on marriage and provides an example of movement activism targeting a religious organization.