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Saturday, July 11, 2015

CHRISTIAN BACKLASH: ENTIRE STAFF OF TENNESSEE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE RESIGNS OVER SUPREME COURT "GAY MARRIAGE" RULING

ENTIRE STAFF OF TENNESSEE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE RESIGNS OVER SUPREME COURT 
"GAY MARRIAGE" RULING
BY HEATHER CLARK
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:

DECATUR COUNTY, Tenn. — The entire staff of a county clerk’s office in Tennessee has resigned following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling declaring that all 50 states must legalize same-sex “marriage.”
Three women who work at the Decatur County office announced their resignations this past week, which will be effective July 14. Clerk Gwen Pope, and employees Sharon Bell and Mickey Butler all have decided to leave their jobs because of their Christian convictions.
“It’s kind of sort of like you don’t want to draw attention to yourself for any reason,” Pope told local television station WBIR, stating that she never sought press over the matter. “That’s not why we’re doing this. Not doing it in any way to draw attention to us. It’s for the glory of God. He’s going to get all the glory.”
The outlet states that a number of area residents called or visited the office on Thursday to express their support of the women.
“These three ladies stood upon their beliefs and they stood upon their morals and no one can fault them,” resident Scott King said. “Too often we as Christians don’t do that. It’s time we followed the lead of what they showed us.”
Commissioner David Boroughs also backed the decision.
“That’s a personal individual decision, but I strongly support them if their faith is that strong,” he said. “I’m proud of them that their faith is so strong and well-rounded that they feel they can do that.”
According to the Associated Press, all Tennessee counties except Decatur County are issuing licenses to same-sex twosomes.
While some believe that stepping down is the right move in such cases, as previously reported, an attorney who works with Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore urged Christian clerks within his state to stay and fight.
“[W]ill your conscience cause you to resign?” Win Johnson wrote in a letter issued to public officials throughout Alabama. “Why would you leave the people of this state, their children, your children and grandchildren to the wolves, those who would rend the society apart with their denial of what’s good and evil?”
“Your duty is to stand against the ravages of a superior authority that would go beyond its rightful power and force upon the people something evil,” he continued. “That’s what the founders of our country did when Parliament exceeded its powers. That’s what the Puritans in civil government in the 1600’s did when the King exceeded his powers.”
Johnson said that the proper response would be to just say no.
“You have authority as an elected official. You also are sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution and Alabama Constitution,” he wrote. “Don’t acquiesce to the takeover (actually the takedown)! Use your authority and every legal angle to oppose the tyrants! If necessary, just say ‘No.’ It is not rebellion for you to say, ‘Your interpretation of the Constitution is wrong, beyond your authority, and detrimental to this nation.’ In fact, it’s your duty. You’re not opposing the rule of law, you’re upholding it by saying that.”
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Christian clerks, bakers take stand against Supreme Court ruling on same-sex union

BY JONAH HICAP
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:

Christians are invoking religious freedom as a response to the US Supreme Court ruling that legalised same-sex marriage in the US.
In Decatur, Tennessee, employees of the country clerk's office all resigned in order for them not to issue same-sex marriage license.
In Oregon, the owner of Sweetcakes by Melissa bakery is fighting back and urged Christians to take a stand after the couple who owns the bakery was found liable for refusing to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.
In Rowan, Kentucky, a county clerk has been sued for refusing to issue marriage license to gay and straight couples, citing "religious concerns."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kentucky filed the lawsuit on Thursday on behalf of two gay couples and two straight couples against County Clerk Kim Davis.
The plaintiffs in the Kentucky case are same-sex couples April Miller and Karen Ann Roberts, and Aaron Skaggs and Barry Spartman, and straight couples Shantel Burke and Stephen Napier, and Jody Fernandez and Kevin Holloway.
Davis has refused to issue marriage license to any couple.
In Tennessee, clerk Gwen Pope and employees Sharon Bell and Mickey Butler have resigned from their jobs because of the Supreme Court decision and their last day will be on July 14, according to a report by WBIR.
"It's for the glory of God. He's going to get all the glory," Pope said of her decision to resign.
Decatur resident Scott King praised the three women for fighting for their religious beliefs.
"These three ladies stood upon their beliefs and they stood upon their morals and no one can fault them. Too often we as Christians don't do that. It's time we followed the lead of what they showed us," he said.
In Oregon, Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweetcakes by Melissa, were ordered by the state's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) to pay $135,000 for discrimination after they refused to make a wedding cake for lesbian couple Rachel Cryer-Bowman and Laurel Bowman-Cryer in 2013.
Aaron denounced the ruling and said he's not backing down.
"For years, we've heard same-sex marriage will not affect anybody. I'm here firsthand to tell everyone in America that it has already impacted people. Christians, get ready to take a stand. Get ready for civil disobedience," he told The Blaze.
He said they will request a stay in the order and will likely appeal the ruling.