A coalition of black churches is angry with President Barack Obama over his decision to stop defending a law that bans gay marriage.

Rev. Anthony Evans heads the National Black Church Initiative, which represents some 34,000 African American churches in the U.S.

He said the president has failed to uphold Jesus' teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Evans said Obama "has violated the Christian faith" and black churches must "reassess their extraordinary support for him."

This week, Obama ordered the Justice Department to stop defending challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act. DOMA defines marriage as only between a man and a woman.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Obama is still "grappling" with his personal views on gay marriage, but has long opposed the federal law as unnecessary and unfair.