Southern Baptist Oppose New Boy Scouts Rules for Gay Members

HOUSTON (AP) — The Southern Baptist Convention has approved a resolution opposing the Boy Scouts of America's new policy allowing gay Scouts. The resolution also calls on the Boy Scouts to remove executive and board leaders who tried to allow gays as both members and leaders without consulting the many religious groups that sponsor Scout troops.

While the resolution does not recommend that Southern Baptists drop ties with the Scouts, it expresses support for those churches and families that decide to do so. It also encourages churches and families who choose to remain with the Scouts to work toward the reversal of the new membership policy. Delegates to the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination voted on the resolution on Wednesday in Houston.