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The pastor of one of the country's largest mega-churches is asking Mayor Annise Parker to resign if she keeps promoting same-sex marriage.

"Respectfully, if you cannot uphold the Texas constitution, then you should do the honorable thing and step down," Pastor Steve Riggle of Grace Community Church wrote in an e-mail to Parker's office.

His congregation includes about 15,000 people, making it one of the biggest in Houston and around the country.

"I was deeply disturbed some months ago when a memo was circulated by an office connected to your office that titled your partner as the first lady of Houston," the letter continued. "You should have corrected that since you know that title has been given only to the wife or husband of the mayor in the appropriate gender language."

Riggle could not be reached for comment Tuesday. But Dave Welch, the director of the Houston Area Pastor Council, said Riggle's views were shared by other religious leaders in the area.

"The voters spoke very clearly in 2005, adopting our state constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman," Welch said. "The mayor's repeated stance against our constitution and the will of the people raises questions about her fitness for office."