WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (AP) – A youth choir from a Texas church the Southern Baptist Convention cut ties with because it didn’t adhere to the denomination’s stance on homosexuals has been told they aren’t welcome to participate in a Kentucky Baptist mission program.

The Broadway Baptist Church Chapel Choir, made up of high-schoolers, was informed June 29 that it was “uninvited” to participate in the University of the Cumberlands’ Mountain Outreach program, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

The Southern Baptist Convention voted during its national meeting in Louisville last week to sever ties with Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas, because it said the church did not adhere to the language in the denomination’s constitution calling for churches not to “approve or endorse homosexual behavior.”

The church drew criticism from some Southern Baptists after gay member couples asked that their portraits appear in a church directory. The church later published a directory without the family portraits.

University of the Cumberlands spokesperson Daphne Baird said July 2 officials at the school in Williamsburg, Ky., declined to comment.

The youths “will be disappointed about this cancellation, but they will be glad to know we have come up with an alternative plan,” said the Rev. Brent Beasley, Broadway’s new pastor, who began work Wednesday and will preach his first sermon Sunday.

“All these kids want to do is praise God with their singing and serve God by helping those in poverty. We’re not going to let denominational politics keep them from doing this good work.”

Instead of going to Kentucky, the choir of 25 teenagers will leave Friday for First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn.