To rally more Senator support for the Federal Marriage Amendment before the mid-July voting date, pro-family groups are urging churches to participate in "Marriage Protection Sunday" on July 11 and "Call your Senator Day" on Monday, July 12.

On July 11, "pastors and Sunday school classes are encouraged to proclaim the importance of the God-ordained institution of marriage in their sermons and to realistically portray the serious threat we face from homosexual marriage," read an "Alert!" update sent by Liberty Counsel.

Liberty Counsel is also providing a list of contact numbers to Senators who oppose and support the FMA.

The event's proposal, which was first announced by American Family Association, also urges "churches to distribute information sheets to their members explaining how to contact their Senators."

Considerations to vote on the FMA was affirmed by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tx.) during a Washington news conference on June 18.

"This amendment is the only tool the American people have to ensure that the definition of marriage remains one man and one woman," said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins in a statement.

According to Perkins, polls have shown that as many as 72 percent of Americans support traditional marriage.

"We look forward to seeing which Senators will step up to the plate and take a stand in defense of marriage next month," he said.

Family Research Council plans to hold three simulcasts to rally support for the FMA among the Christian community. The next simulcast is scheduled on Marriage Protection Sunday, featuring Perkins, Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson, Prison Fellowship Ministries' Chuck Colson, and Southern Baptist Convention's Dr. Richard Land.

Many participating speakers were part of FRC's very first "The Battle for Marriage" simulcast, which broadcasted live via satellite from New Life Church in Colorado Springs on May 23 to over 700 churches nationwide.

The issue of same-sex marriage began to be more of a public concern especially after San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom defied California State Law and issued marriage licenses to some 4,000 same-sex couples before being halted by the state's High Court. A decision on whether Newsom overstepped his powers in issuing the marriage licenses is expected to be delivered in August. Meanwhile, Massachusetts has continued to marry same-sex couples since homosexual marriages were legalized on May 17.

"We now know that homosexual couples from 46 states have been 'married' in Massachusetts, and there are lawsuits pending in at least 11 states seeking to strike down the definition of marriage," informed Perkins.

He said, "This is a national problem, and it requires a national solution - an amendment to the U.S. Constitution protecting marriage."