Scouts, delaying vote, spark Baptist leaders' hopefulness

Facing pressure from its supporters and members, the Boy Scouts executive board announced Wednesday it is delaying a decision on lifting its prohibition of gay Scout leaders and members until May, when it will put the matter before its 1,400 voting members.

Meeting in Irving, Texas, the board was considering a proposal that would have replaced the national ban with a "local option" for local councils to determine the policy, potentially leaving a patchwork of different policies within the same city. Outside groups on both sides had criticized the proposal.

In a statement, the Scouts announced that "after careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization," the board concluded that "due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy."

The statement further said that the board directed its committees to engage Scout members and "listen to their perspectives and concerns." The board will "work on a resolution on membership standards" and present it to the 1,400 voting members at the national annual meeting in May. Read more