Posted on Jul 17, 2012 | by Staff

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin has joined Family Research Council as its executive vice president.

An outspoken Christian, Boykin was an original member of the U.S. Army's Delta Force and later commander of the Green Berets. He served the final four years of his 36-year Army career as the deputy under secretary of defense for intelligence. Some of his comments about the war on terrorism drew criticism when he couched the conflict in spiritual warfare terms while speaking to churches.

Retired since 2007, Boykin now is an ordained minister.

His new role with the Family Research Council (FRC) will consist of supervising the day-to-day operations of one of the country's leading pro-family organizations. One of his priorities will be working with FRC's leadership to develop a long-range strategy, Boykin told reporters July 13.

Tony Perkins, FRC's president, said in a July 16 news release Boykin's "leadership skills, forged under the most demanding circumstances, combined with his passion for faith, family and freedom will greatly enhance" the organization's work.

Boykin, 64, said he and his wife made the commitment to return to Washington after their time with family at Christmas.

"It's no longer about me. It's about my grandchildren," Boykin told reporters.

"Is it going to be our generation that gives their future away?" he asked. "Or is it going to be our generation that preserves it?"

Boykin's expertise will be especially helpful with FRC's work on military issues, Perkins said.

The "social experimentation" that has become part of the military -- such as mixing the sexes when it is inappropriate and repealing the Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban on open homosexuality --– does not help combat readiness, Boykin said.

He said he thinks "retention and recruitment will be affected by these social experiments."

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Reported by Baptist Press Washington bureau chief Tom Strode. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).