Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk at the center of a national controversy over her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses, was presented the Cost of Discipleship Award Friday evening at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C.
The award, presented by the Family Research Council, is given to those who pay a price for their faith.
A visibly emotional Davis said she was “undeserving” of the award.
She said the love of Christ enables one to “endure all things.”
“I have discovered through all of this that His grace is truly sufficient in all things. I am only one, but we are many.”
The controversy began when Davis, a recent convert to Christianity, argued that issuing same-sex marriage licenses bearing her name would violate her conscience.
U.S. District Court Judge David Bunning ordered Davis to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis was held in contempt of court and jailed for refusing to follow the judge’s order.
Her supporters argued that she has a right to freedom of conscience, and her critics argued that she was discriminating against same-sex couples and refusing to do her job.
In a statement, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said that “millions of Americans stand with her and for the religious freedom upon which our nation was founded.”
“Far from the media’s portrayal, Kim isn’t trying to impose her views on anyone, she is simply asking that her orthodox religious views be accommodated,” Perkins said.