In the Old Testament, they didn’t elect prophets. They stoned them. I didn’t come here to be a career politician. I came to speak truth.

Long before I was elected HD15’s State Representative, I served as an ordained minister, former Navy Chaplain, and I still preach two hours every Sunday in my private ministry on our national TV show.

When I decided to run for office, I thought I could keep doing both jobs. Most State Reps have two jobs. I thought I could wear two hats. Perhaps I was mistaken.

My ministry job as a chaplain and preacher on Sundays has begun to overshadow the important work of serving as your State Rep., Monday through Friday in the Capitol.

I therefore announce that I will suspend my Christian preaching ministry for the next six weeks, and I will take a Sabbatical from my television show until the end of this legislative session. We will air a few more new programs created this week, but starting next week we plan to only air TV re-runs until the end of the legislative session on May 7th.

I will not resign from either job. But for now I am 100 percent devoted to representing the voters of House District 15, because they deserve nothing less.

I ask forgiveness from everyone offended by my Sunday sermons. Today I issued a public video and formal, sincere apology.

Now The Denver Post reports that because I quoted unpopular Bible verses from the pulpit in my Sunday ministry, the legislative branch of the Colorado government will remove me from a committee.

While I respect his position, I disagree with Leader Brian DelGrosso’s decision, because it clearly establishes an unprecedented religious litmus test for which representatives can sit on what committees.

I was not driving drunk, I was not arrested by the police, I am literally being punished for quoting unpopular Bible verses in my Sunday church, or interpreting the Old Testament differently than Leader DelGrosso interprets it, during my private ministry outside the Capitol. Is that suddenly a crime?

This is not the first time that a branch of the government has reached into my chapel and punished me for my sermons. It also happened when I was a chaplain in the Navy in 2005. That unlawful punishment helped launch 300,000 petitions and I was eventually vindicated by Congress, because their voters demanded religious freedom.Will we?

Here in Colorado, officials can’t claim we have freedom to preach, then levy government punishments for doing that. That endangers everybody’s religious freedom.

The government is now forcing me to choose between obeying God on Sunday, and representing the people Monday through Friday. That’s a hard choice. I want to do both, but party leaders are essentially saying I cannot. I say the people of Colorado will decide my fate, not the establishment.

In May and June I will ask my supporters in House District 15 whether I should run for re-election in 2016. This is their seat, not mine, and I trust their judgment.

My Christian ministry will resume full-time when this body adjourns on May 7th. I will never stop preaching the gospel.

I ask your forgiveness if I have offended you. My voters sent me here to fight for liberty, and I will not stop fighting for the conservative principles of our Republican party, including every person’s religious freedom regardless of creed or party, and all of our Constitutional rights as envisioned by our Founding Fathers.

If you’re with me or against me, please write me at gordon@gordonforcolorado.com or message me through gordonforcolorado.com. I want to know your thoughts.

— Gordon Klingenschmitt, PhD is a State Representative from House District 15 in Colorado Springs.