Congregation Over Denomination: Analyzing Psychological Reactions to a Church Ruling on Same Sex Marriage

In 2019, the United Methodist Church (UMC) voted to maintain their stance of prohibiting the ordination of gay clergy and the performance of same-sex marriages within the church. As part of a multi-method study, we hosted focus groups, interviews, and conducted surveys with 54 individuals from four UMC churches to assess attitudes about the outcome of the vote. Consistent with hypotheses, the majority expressed disappointment and evidence of having resolved cognitive dissonance that arose from continued church attendance. Both quantitative and qualitative measures indicated a tendency for participants to disidentify with the global church and denomination but to strengthen their commitment and ties to their more LGBTQ-friendly local congregations. We identified themes of resilience, community, and increased activism. We discuss implications for other organizations grappling with the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities as well as implications for political polarization more broadly.