An anti-gay manifesto was signed by more than 150 religious leaders across the United States, confirming their belief that homosexuality is a sin and marriage is between a man and a woman.
The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood released the manifesto on Tuesday, which contains 14 beliefs that the organization referred to as the Nashville Statement because of the location in which it was created, The Tennessean reported on Tuesday.
The manifesto was signed by a number of prominent faith leaders, including at least two of President Donald Trump's evangelical advisers, Jack Graham, a Southern Baptist pastor, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, The Washington Post said.
"It is our prayer that this statement might provide help for churches and Christian organizations that are looking for biblical guidance on how to address homosexuality and transgenderism," Denny Burk, president of the council, said in a CBMW statement.
"We also aim to foster a coalition of like-minded evangelicals to stand together for the challenging days ahead. Finally, we wish to influence a rising generation of evangelicals who are under pressure to abandon scriptural teaching about marriage, gender, and sexuality."
Article I of the Nashville statement says that God's design defines marriage as a lifelong union between a man and woman and it denies homosexual and polygamous marriage. Article VII affirmed that the "self-conception" of the male and female was designed by God and that homosexual and transgender "self conception" was not designed for "God's holy purposes."
"The Nashville Statement is an urgently needed moment of gospel clarity," said Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "The Sexual Revolution cannot keep its promises, and the church must stand ready to receive with compassion the many who are in need of a better hope.”
"The Nashville Statement is part of that mission, and my prayer is that it will help anchor churches and Christians to the gospel of Jesus Christ for years to come."
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said Tuesday on Twitter that the coalition's document does not reflect the "inclusive values" of Nashville residents and is "poorly named."
Jen Hatmaker, a Christian author and host of the HGTV series "Your Big Family Renovation," spoke out against the manifesto on Twitter, too.