_create.js.erb

$('#follow_lodge').html("<%= escape_javascript(render partial: 'shared/follow_lodge', locals: {@issueable => @followable}) %>");

_follow_lodge.html.erb

<% if current_user.following?(@issueable) %>
  <%= button_to("Un-Follow #{@issueable.combined}",
                lodge_follows_path(@issueable.to_param, current_user.follows?(@issueable)),
                method: :delete,
                remote: true) %>
<% else %>
  <%= button_to("Follow #{@issueable.combined}",
                lodge_follows_path(@issueable.to_param),
                remote: true) %>
<% end %>

follows_controller.rb

class FollowsController < ApplicationController
  def create
    current_user.follow(followable)
    respond_to :js
  end

  def destroy
    current_user.stop_following(followable)
    respond_to :js
  end
end

follows_lodges_controller.rb

class FollowsLodgesController < FollowsController
  def followable
    @followable ||= @issueable
  end
end

View call.erb

<% if user_signed_in? %>
      <div id="follow_lodge">
        <!-- does not work when uncommented, renders code as text inline -->
        <%#= render 'follows_lodges/create.js' %>
        <!-- does work, but then fails on url gen, which is seperate issue -->
        <%= render partial: 'shared/follow_lodge', locals: {@issueable => @followable} %>
      </div>
    <% end %>