COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Southern Baptists remain opposed to same-sex marriage but their pastors are being urged not to fear America's changing culture.

The Rev. Russell Moore, who heads the denomination's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, spoke Sunday to pastors in Columbus, Ohio, ahead of this week's annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Moore noted that while previous meetings in U.S. cities have been greeted with signs welcoming the Southern Baptists, the streets in Columbus this week are festooned with signs advertising the city's gay pride festival.

But Moore said the pastors shouldn't be "pining for some better day in the past when everything was easier." Instead, he said, they should faithfully present the gospel on the American mission field where God has placed them.