The national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America voted Monday to end a ban on gay adult leaders, clearing the way for gay men and lesbians to serve as volunteers, counselors, and in other leadership roles within the 105-year-old organization.

The new policy, which will take effect immediately, was approved in a 45-12 vote, according to a statement on the Scouts’ website.

“For far too long this issue has divided and distracted us and now it’s time for us to be united behind our shared belief in the extraordinary power of scouting to be a force for good,” Robert Gates, the organization’s president, said in a videotaped statement.

The resolution to end the ban on gay adults still allows local scout units that are chartered to religious or other like-minded organizations to continue to set their own policies on gay adults.

Earlier this month, a smaller, 17-member executive committee unanimously voted to end the prohibition and allow individual Scout units to set their own policies.