Hundreds of followers of Mormon Christianity are resigning from their faith over the latest declarations from the elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding same sex marriage. While few sects of Christianity approve of homosexuality, many of the Mormon Christian faithful believe that their church has gone too far.

The Mormon Christian church, based at Salt Lake City, has been long an opponent of homosexuality and of same sex marriage, according to Reuters. The church elders recently proclaimed that same sex Mormon couples were apostates, or those who have lost or abandoned their faith. In addition, children of same sex couples can’t be formally baptized into the church. The ritual of baptism, for Mormon Christians, is a critical rite of passage for those who enter this sect of Christianity.

For the 15 million worldwide Mormon Christians, homosexuals and same sex marriage spouses are subject to discipline if they want to remain and may also be subject to immediate ex-communication. Children of same sex couples that want to enter and remain in the Mormon Christian faith can’t enter into the rite of baptism until they reach the age of 18. Even then, they must renounce homosexuality and same sex marriage and leave their homes in order to do so.

There will be a major protest held in Salt Lake City on Saturday in a park across from the imposing Mormon temple. Organizers are expecting at least 750 people to participate in the protest. At this time, the protesters are expected to ceremoniously mail their formal resignations from the church. Lawyers will be at the protest to assist those with the paperwork required. Apparently, it is a long, complicated, and paperwork laden process to formally resign from the Mormon Christian church and to enounce the faith.

The new policies outlined last week by the church elders come in response to a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court that ruled same sex marriages were constitutional and lawful throughout the country.