Six North Carolina magistrates have abruptly resigned over gay marriage legalisation in their state.
Gilbert Breedlove of Swain County, Tommy Holland of Graham County, John Kallam Jr. of Rockingham County, Gayle Myrick of Union County, Jeff Powell of Jackson County, and Gaston County magistrate Bill Stevenson have stepped down since gay marriage was legalised on October 10.
According to the Christian Post, all of the magistrates resigned because they believe gay marriage is contrary to their Christian faith, and they do not want to conduct gay marriage ceremonies.
Stevenson issued his resignation less than a week after same-sex marriage was legalised in North Carolina.
"It was something I had to do out of conscience," he told WCNC. "I felt like to perform same-sex unions would be in violation of the Lord's commands, so I couldn't do that.
"I hate to wax it so biblical but [the Bible] says 'What good is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul,'" he continued. "So, that's the stakes I put on this." Stevenson had been a magistrate for about 18 months.
Holland also said that his resignation was an unavoidable decision.
"When the federal judges ruled that gay marriage was legal and North Carolina honors that, and part of a magistrate's job is to perform marriage ceremonies, I knew I couldn't honour that law," he told The Christian Examiner.
"It's against my belief. It's against what the Bible says. ...I was raised a Southern Baptist. God has always taken care of me."
Gay marriage advocate Rick McDermott said the magistrates' rights are not being trampled upon.
"While we understand people have their own religious beliefs, we don't think this is about religious discrimination," he said. "It's really more so about the magistrates doing their job and following the law."
North Carolina Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) has spoken out in defense of the Christian magistrates, and plans to draft a bill protecting magistrates from having to issue marriage licenses or conduct marriage ceremonies for gay couples.
There are over 660 county magistrates in North Carolina.
