African-American church leaders are calling on the Senate to bar military facilities from hosting same-sex weddings.

They want the Senate to adopt an amendment recently passed by the House that bars the use of military facilities for gay marriages or personnel from performing them.

Bishop John Neal, a retired U.S. Army colonel who leads the International Communion of Evangelical Churches, said many chaplains and high-ranking military officers may retire early if an amendment is not passed.

The Rev. Terry Millender, former honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery, said conscience protections will be needed for chaplains and troops who believe gay sex is wrong if the current ban on gay troops is repealed.