The Boy Scouts of America has shut down a troop in Seattle, Wash. after the troop refused to remove an openly gay Scoutmaster. 

The BSA revoked the charters of the Rainier Beach United Methodist Church and its two scouting units, Pack 98 and Troop 98, for defending Scoutmaster Geoffrey McGrath after the BSA fired him as a Scoutmaster in March, TIME reports. 

The reverend of the church, Rev. Dr. Monica Corsaro, would not remove McGrath from his position as troop leader after it was discovered that he is gay. 

"Based on our religious principles, we will continue to act as an autonomous church that does not discriminate," she told Scouts for Equality, a group that lobbies against scouting discrimination. "We will continue to have our troop meetings here, every Thursday night, with business as usual."

Deron Smith, the BSA's Director of Communications, said the organization had to revoke the church's charter because it did not follow the terms of its chartered organization. 

"We are saddened by this development, but remain committed to providing all youth with the best possible Scouting experience where the Scouting program is the main focus," Smith said. "We are contacting the parents and leaders of the units to inform them of the chartered organization change."

While the BSA allows gay individuals to become scouts, it does not allow them to take adult leadership positions. 

McGrath is said to be the first openly gay adult to have his leadership position taken away by the BSA. 

He revealed his sexuality in March to the BSA following an NBC report about the troop's inclusiveness. The Boy Scouts asked McGrath about his sexual orientation after seeing the report. 

"The Boy Scouts' decisions only serve to hurt a group of boys who need the values and leadership of someone like Scoutmaster McGrath," said Zach Wahls, the executive director of Scouts for Equality.

"Unfortunately, the BSA's decision calls into question its commitment to leadership and values by perpetuating an outmoded policy rooted in fear and discrimination," he added.