The United Church of Christ filed a lawsuit Monday on behalf of clergy from across faith traditions challenging the constitutionality of North Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriage.

The clergy plaintiffs contend that the ban violates their First Amendment rights of religious freedom by prohibiting them from marrying same-sex couples.

In addition to Amendment 1, which makes it unconstitutional for the state to recognize same-sex marriages, a separate state law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for a clergy member to solemnize a marriage for a couple that has not obtained a marriage license.

In North Carolina, marriage licenses cannot be issued to same-sex couples.

“As senior minister, I am often asked to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples in my congregation. My denomination – the United Church of Christ – authorizes me to perform these ceremonies. But Amendment One denies my religious freedom by prohibiting me from exercising this right,” says Rev. Joe Hoffman, Senior Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville and a plaintiff in the case.

The church says the lawsuit is the first in the nation to challenge a same-sex marriage ban on the basis of freedom of religion.

“In addition to bringing 14th amendment claims under equal protection and due process, this lawsuit introduces a 1st Amendment claim that the marriage ban in North Carolina violates the right to the free exercise of religious beliefs by denominations, clergy, and congregants who believe that same-sex marriage are theologically valid and want to perform marriage ceremonies,” said Jake Sussman, lead counsel in the lawsuit.

Plaintiffs in the case:

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ;

Rev. Nancy Ellett Allison, Ph.D, Holy Covenant United Church of Christ; Lisa Cloninger and Kathleen Smith, a couple of 12 years, who attend Holy Covenant UCC;

Rabbi Jonathan Freirich; Joel Blady & Jeff Addy, who seek to marry;

Rev. Joe Hoffman, First Congregational United Church of Christ (Asheville); Diane Ansley and Cathy McGaughey, a couple of 14 years who attend FCUCC;

Rev. Nathan King, Trinity United Church of Christ (Concord); Shauna Bragan and Stacy Malone, who attend Trinity UCC;

Rev. Nancy Kraft, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Charlotte); Cathy Fry and Joanne Marinaro, a couple of 28 years, who attend Holy Trinity;

Rev. Nancy Petty, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church;

Rev. Robin Tanner, Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church (Charlotte); and

Rev. Mark Ward, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville; Carol Taylor and Betty Mack, a couple of 41 years, who attend UUC of Asheville.

Read the full complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina:

Read more about the lawsuit here.