As Rowan County clerk Kim Davis returned to work Monday in Kentucky, debates—even among Christians—continue nationwide, as many stand behind her decision not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, or any couple, while others say if the elected official doesn’t want to perform the duties of her job, she should resign.
For several weeks, the American Pastors Network (APN) has weighed in on the issue. APN President Sam Rohrer has written the piece, “Five Reasons Why Kim Davis Is Justified in Refusing to Grant Same-Sex Marriage Licenses,” to help answer questions and alleviate confusion surrounding the issue.
“Opinions on Kim Davis’ course of action are widely varied, even among the faithful,” Rohrer said, “but once we take the law and the Word of God into account, it’s clear that Kim’s stance is in line with both the Bible and her constitutional rights, as she defends her closely held religious convictions in all aspects of her life—including her job.”
On Monday, Davis returned to her post at the Rowan County clerk’s office after serving six days in jail earlier this month, and said she would not interfere with deputy clerks who chose to issue licenses to same-sex couples, but that the licenses would not contain her name and she would not personally issue them, according to Fox News.
Rohrer, who discussed the case on last Thursday’s edition of the daily APN radio program “Stand in the Gap Today,” says Davis was indeed justified in refusing to grant marriage licenses for five key reasons:
- According to Romans 13:1, she is a “minister of God” appointed by God. As a result, her foremost and ultimate obligation is a moral obligation to God and biblical truth.
- As an elected official of the commonwealth of Kentucky, she is primarily obligated to follow the law of Kentucky, which recognizes legitimate marriage as to be between one man and one woman.
- As an elected official, her duty, under oath, is to uphold the law, which means to carry out and defend the laws of the state of Kentucky, not resign or run from the first sign of conflict.
- Federal Judge David Bunning’s ruling against Kim Davis was not law. It was just the opinion of an unelected individual; thereby, Kim Davis has a greater standing before the people than the unelected federal judge because she was elected by the citizens of Rowan County.
- Kim Davis understood that her decision to defend her God-given obligation and constitutionally protected First Amendment rights was the banner with which to defend this right for all Americans, and that it was more important than her own convenience and even her personal freedom.
On Constitution Day, Sept. 17, Rohrer will be a featured speaker alongside Kim Davis’ husband, Joe Davis, religious liberties champion Rafael Cruz, evangelical leader Dr. Richard Land, Tennessee Pastors Network president Dale Walker, Tennessee Rep. Judd Matheny and Bishop E.W. Jackson at the “Stand in the Gap for Truth” Rally at 11 a.m. at the Legislative Plaza, 301 6th Ave N in Nashville.
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