Wichita ? A pastor who led the push last year for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Kansas told his congregation Sunday he was resigning as its senior pastor but would continue working to address social issues.

The resignation of the Rev. Terry Fox caught the congregation of Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita by surprise when it was announced at the end of Sunday morning services. Fox and church leaders would not say what prompted the resignation.

“I see a need for Christians to get involved in issues,” Fox told parishioners.

News of the resignation was greeted Monday by the Kansas Equality Coalition, a gay rights group, with a statement saying Fox’s campaigns diverted the state from many of the real problems facing Kansas.

“Instead of focusing on campaigns to hurt people, we wish Terry Fox would have spent more time worrying about the real threats to marriage in Kansas, such as infidelity, abuse, poverty and divorce,” said Thomas Witt, chairman of the coalition.

Fox said he plans to continue working with the Rev. Joe Wright, retired pastor of Central Christian Church, to address social issues. He also plans to continue co-hosting with Wright a nationally syndicated radio show.

The two men spearheaded the push last year for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

Wright told The Wichita Eagle that he has known for months that Fox struggled with wanting to do more in the “cultural war.”

Wright said issues the two could tackle may include evolution, abortion and Internet pornography.

Immanuel Baptist Church member Shawn McCloskey said he understood Fox’s desire to do more outside of the Wichita congregation.

“Some people are really good at preaching, but they’re not effective in the city or in the nation,” McCloskey said. “Being effective, this is an extension of what brother Terry does.”