Cobb Pastor's Boy Scouts Stance Garners Praise, Criticism

Members of Roswell Street Baptist Church in Cobb County gave their senior pastor a standing ovation Sunday for his stance against the Boy Scouts of America's decision to allow openly gay members.

Ernest Easley recently told Reuters that "his church will no longer sponsor the troop it has backed since 1945 due to the new policy."

But while there was applause inside the Marietta church on Sunday, Easley's decision to cut ties with the Boy Scouts has elicited strong responses outside of the church walls.

Here are some of the comments posted on the church's Facbeook page:

My name is __JayChaffin__. I want to voice my disappointment with your decision to kick Boy Scout Troop #__204___ into the streets. I believe your actions and behavior are abominable and un-Christlike. It's a shame that you are sending such a message to young impressionable boys that it's okay to discriminate, hate, and exclude people just because they are different from yourself. I believe this is the wrong message for the Church to send. —Jay Chaffin

You should be ashamed to teach hate and also to not want young people to stay in the boy scouts, because your church is so closed minded. I am ashamed of the churches and the hate in their hearts. —David Link

Your actions regarding the Boy Scouts are disgusting. Where in the Bible did God give you the power to judge and to discriminate? If memory serves me, the Bible preaches just the opposite. You give modern Christianity a bad name. —Bill Adams

It is an absolute disgrace that you would abandon your scout troop after 63yrs. I understand the bibles religious views on sodomy . Sexuality has nothing to do with scouts at all therefore gay or straight, the Boy Scouts of America are not bringing homosexuality into your church. It is a real shame. Jesus probably would not have evicted such an important organization to our youth. Especially in today's world. Doesn't Jesus welcome all with open arms? Shame on you. —William Jorgensen

I don't know why everyone is so surprised at your decision to stop supporting the Boy Scouts. Your church is associated with an organization (SBC) that has ONLY just recently apologized for its position on slavery. Bigots will be bigots! —Perry A Warren

How do you feel about Roswell Street Baptist Church's decision to discontinue sponsorship of its Boy Scouts troop? Tell us in the comments box below.

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