Topeka ? Two pastors will deliver more than 30,000 petition signatures calling for the resignation of House Speaker Mike O’Neal for an email he forwarded that referred to President Barack Obama and a Bible verse that states, “Let his days be few and brief.”

The petition put together by the online network Faithful America criticizes O’Neal, R-Hutchinson, for using scripture to pray for Obama’s death.

The petition reads: “As people of faith, we believe that scripture should never be used to justify praying for the death of anyone. Speaker O’Neal’s hateful abuse of scripture is unacceptable and a disgrace to his office, and he should immediately resign.”

O’Neal has said he was referring to Obama’s days in office, not his death.

And O’Neal has said he will not step down from office.

The petition signatures will be delivered at 1 p.m. Thursday to the south steps of the Capitol by the Revs. Tobias Schlingensiepen, senior minister of the First Congregational Church in Topeka, and Jim McCollough, executive director of the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice.

The controversy erupted after O’Neal forwarded to House Republicans an email that has been posted in various places on the Internet and refers to a bumper sticker that reads “Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8.”

Psalm 109:8 states, “Let his days be few and brief; and let others step forward to replace him.”

The email states: “At last — I can honestly voice a Biblical prayer for our president! Look it up — it is word for word! Let us all bow our heads and pray. Brothers and Sisters, can I get an AMEN? AMEN!!!!!!”