They have to enforce the Book of Discipline because the Book of Discipline says that lay people cannot perform the sacraments. If you eschew the Book of Discipline, you could eliminate the need for paid pastors.
When pastors take political stands in the pulpit, they alienate half the congregation. Our attendance and giving is down 30% since we got a new pastor who went political on us immediately. Some of our clergy are chomping at the bit to do a same-sex marriage and have made that desire known.
The UMC is looking at a major downfall for getting too involved in politics.
I posted an article a month or so ago showing that the membership trajectory of the UMC within the USA says that it will not exist in the year 2050. We have a few large churches, but the vast majority are smaller and older.
I agree with the analysis. This denomination is done if there isn’t a split.