Trump picks Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback as religious freedom ambassador

The White House has announced that President Donald Trump will nominate Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback as America's next ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Brownback would assume the position created in the State Department by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, of which he was one of the key sponsors.

"Religious freedom is the first freedom. The choice of what you do with your own soul. I am honored to serve such an important cause," the Republican governor tweeted.

Brownback, who has previously served in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, was one of only three members of Congress to receive a perfect score on the International Religious Freedom Scorecard for his efforts during President Barack Obama's first two years in office.

The governor is expected to step down when he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, but his office has not discussed his plans when the White House made the announcement on Wednesday. His departure would automatically elevate Lt. gov. Jeff Colyer to governor, according to The Associated Press.

Brownback has governed Kansas since 2011, and was re-elected in 2014. He is no longer eligible to run for a third consecutive term.

In 2015, the governor issued an executive order protecting the religious freedom of clergy and organizations that opposed same-sex marriage when it became legal following the landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"We ... recognize that religious liberty is at the heart of who we are as Kansans and Americans, and should be protected," the governor said at the time.

The Republican governor would leave Kansas with far tougher restrictions on abortion and fewer limits on gun owners, but he will be most remembered for championing cuts in Kansas personal income taxes beginning in 2012.

Brownback, who converted from Methodism to Roman Catholicism in 2002, had served as a Catholic advisor to the Trump campaign.

His nomination has been pushed by some conservative religious groups, and Brownback's fellow Republicans have said that the job is a good fit for him.

"Sam has always been called to fight for those of all faiths, and I am glad he has been given an opportunity to answer this call," said Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts.

Tom Farr, president of the Religious Freedom Institute at Georgetown University, told Christianity Today, that the Republican governor "has the experience, passion, and gravitas to make the advancement of international religious freedom an all-of-government policy that will engage all US foreign affairs agencies."