IRVING, Texas — Faced with intense pressure from the left and right, the Boy Scouts of America said yesterday it needed more time for consultations before deciding whether to move away from its policy of excluding gays as Scouts or adult leaders.

Possible changes in the policy — such as allowing sponsors of local troops to decide for themselves on gay membership — will not be voted on until the organization’s annual meeting in May, the national executive board said.

As the board met over three days, it became clear the proposed change would be unacceptable to large numbers of Scouting families.