DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN) – The debate over same-sex marriage plays out again Tuesday night in a county just west of Nashville.

It’s a resolution from the Dickson County Commission urging Tennessee lawmakers and Congress to return the definition of marriage to the states.

“We do not hate anybody. This is about the word of God to us, and we are just trying to be true to the word,” Reverend Jamie Allen told News 2.MORE: Push for new resolution brings definition of marriage back to limelight

He was one of a coalition of pastors in the county who petitioned for a resolution before the Dickson County Commission.

The resolution urges Tennessee state lawmakers to “take all action necessary to amend the US Constitution” and “return power over the definition of marriage to the states.”

“If you look at the established marriage between a man and woman, it has been around for 7,000 years and we have done quite well,” added Rev. Allen. “It’s worth the battle.”

The Tennessee Equality Project (TEP) which fights for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights opposes the resolution which is aimed first at state lawmakers.

“They could pass a bill, it could go into effect,” said Chris Sanders of TEP. “It could affect marriage equality, but it would be overturned in the courts we believe.”

The measure goes along with what’s called the Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act, which requires the state to defend marriage between a man and a woman no matter what courts say, but defying the federal courts could come with a huge cost according to some, like loss of federal funds for things like state’s huge Medicaid program TennCare.

“It’s really something that everybody ought to hit the pause button on–twice three times before moving forward,” added Sanders.

No indication though, that the pause button will be hit in Dickson County.