On the current state of our nation and my response of conviction.

We have...
1.  An Executive branch with an illegitimate president who I believe is not a citizen of the United States of America, who has unconstitutionally created regulatory institutions by administrative fiat (as have his predecessors), and encouraged the passage of immoral laws.
2.  A Legislative branch that has created intrusive institutions and laws that go far beyond constitutional limits, and has actively participated in the passing of or allowed judicial activism to create immoral laws.
3.  A Judicial branch which has both created and allowed unconstitutional laws through judicial activism and it's intentional failure to act.

Our nation is imploding in on itself as a result of our moral relativism.  We are governed by elitists who believe that they know better than the people who elected them how we should live, and they have no moral foundation.

Today, the United States Supreme Court, in their arrogant inaction affirming the like arrogant judicial activist decision of the lower court, decided that the people of Utah do not matter in our convictions that "marriage" is defined as being between a man and a woman alone.

The resulting impact on my ability to serve my Lord as an ordained minister of the Gospel according to my convictions is profound.  I have always counted it a joy to officiate weddings, and with that to sign documents which allow those marriages to receive recognition by the state. 

As the state no longer recognizes a Biblical definition of marriage, I can no longer recognize the states authority to legitimize marriages, nor can I participate in the state process. 

It has never been the states role to legitimize the joining of a man and woman in matrimony, and it is time we make that abundantly clear.

My declaration:

1.  I believe that it is time for people of religious conviction, particularly of the Christian faith, to take back from the government that which is not its domain, the institution of marriage and all other areas of moral conviction.  As a consequence...

2.  I will no longer serve as an officer of the court by signing government marriage certificates.

3.  I will joyously officiate Marriage Covenant Ceremonies between one man and one woman, and I will personally recognize those marriages regardless of any state action.

4.  As believers, we must be prepared for attempts by institutions of our government to broaden the control they hold in our lives, and to stand together in faith against that oppression.  We must be be prepared for persecution just as our brethren have faced in other times and places.  Though prepared, we must not seek conflict where none is forced upon us, but simply live fully believing Jesus, even when He warned that we would be hated by the world. 

5.  We must be strong in our convictions.

Please note:
This is not about hating people who identify as homosexual, or any other orientation.  Jesus loves and died on the cross to pay for their sin just as he did mine.  I have dear friends and family that I love who identify as homosexual or bi-sexual, and that has not changed.

This is solely about the institution of marriage and nothing more.  I know that it will not be interpreted with that narrow scope, but I pray that you will understand that as my only intent. 

This is a personal position statement, and is not open for debate.  Any comments, pro or con, will be deleted.